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OBJECTIVE: To establish normative data for selected ocular diagnostic tests and commensal conjunctival microflora and describe the incidence of ocular pathology in Chilean flamingos. ANIMALS STUDIED: A total of 41 Chilean flamingos were examined at the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa. PROCEDURES: In 20 flamingos, blink rate was assessed undisturbed in their exhibit, then gentle manual restraint was used to assess palpebral fissure length (PFL), aqueous tear production (phenol red thread test [PRTT] in one eye, endodontic absorbent paper point tear test [EAPPTT] in the other), intraocular pressure (IOP; rebound tonometry), and fluorescein staining. Twenty-one other flamingos were brought to a darkened area for neuro-ophthalmic examination, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Swabs from seven flamingos were used for ocular microbiome evaluation. RESULTS: Results are presented as mean ± standard deviation (range). Flamingos comprised 23 females/18 males, aged 11 ± 9.1 (0.7-40) years. Test results: blink rate, 3.7 ± 2 (1-9) blinks/min; PFL, 11.2 ± 1.2 (9-14) mm; IOP, 14 ± 3.2 (10-22) mmHg; EAPPT, 10.2 ± 2.8 (9-14) mm/min; PRTT, 6.8 ± 2.5 (3-13) mm/15 s. Dazzle reflex was positive in four birds examined. Pathologies included cataracts (n = 7 birds), corneal fibrosis (n = 3), endothelial pigment (n = 2), uveal cysts (n = 1), lens luxation (n = 1), and uveitis (n = 1). Ocular microbiome showed high diversity of taxa. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline ocular parameters and incidence of ophthalmic pathology assist veterinarians with disease screening for Chilean flamingos, while the ocular microbiome showed high diversity.
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OBJECTIVE: To characterize diagnostic findings, test-retest repeatability, and correlations among lacrimal tests in dogs of diverse cephalic conformations. ANIMAL STUDIED: Fifty healthy dogs (25 brachycephalic, 25 nonbrachycephalic). PROCEDURES: A series of diagnostics were performed in each dog, allowing for a 10-minute interval between tests and repeating each test 24 hours later under similar conditions: corneal tactile sensation (CTS), strip meniscometry test (SMT), phenol red thread test (PRTT), endodontic absorbent paper point tear test (EAPPTT), Schirmer tear test-1 without (STT-1) or with nasolacrimal stimulation (NL-STT1), and Schirmer tear test-2 (STT-2). RESULTS: Mean ± SD test values were lower in brachycephalic vs. nonbrachycephalic dogs (except for SMT; 7.4 ± 2.0 mm/5 seconds vs 7.3 ± 2.4 mm/5 seconds), with statistically significant differences noted for CTS (1.8 ± 0.5 cm vs 3.4 ± 0.8 cm), PRTT (37.2 ± 4.0 mm/15 seconds vs 41.1 ± 5.5 mm/15 seconds), STT-1 (20.1 ± 3.4 mm/min vs 23.3 ± 5.7 mm/min), STT-2 (13.0 ± 3.4 mm/min vs 16.9 ± 3.9 mm/min), and NL-STT1 (23.2 ± 3.6 mm/min vs 27.1 ± 5.4 mm/min), and nonsignificant differences for EAPPTT (16.6 ± 2.7 mm/15 seconds vs 17.5 ± 2.9 mm/15 seconds). Nasolacrimal stimulation increased STT-1 values by 18% on average. Correlations among tests were generally weak to moderate (r < .70) except for a strong correlation between STT-1 and NL-STT1 (r = .83, P < .001). Test reliability was good although test-retest repeatability was generally poor to moderate, as depicted by low intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC ≤ 0.75) and wide 95% limits of agreement, except for CTS (ICC = 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal sensitivity and aqueous tear secretion are lower in brachycephalic dogs. A comprehensive assessment of the ocular surface requires the combination of several diagnostic tests. The nasolacrimal reflex may provide a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool in dogs.
Assuntos
Ducto Nasolacrimal/fisiologia , Lágrimas/fisiologia , Animais , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Oftalmológico/veterinária , Cães , Feminino , Masculino , Linhagem , Fitas Reagentes , Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
The original article [1] contained an error whereby the respective legends of Figs. 2 and 3 were mistakenly interchanged. This error has now been amended.
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BACKGROUND: The fluorescein clearance test (FCT) provides insight into the tear film dynamics. The purpose of this study was to describe an inexpensive and practical method for assessing FCT in dogs, using photography and software analysis, and to assess the retention time of 1 vs. 2 eye drops on the canine ocular surface. METHODS: (i) In vivo - Eight healthy German Shepherd dogs were recruited. Following topical anesthesia with 0.5% proxymetacaine, each eye sequentially received (1 week apart) either 1 drop (35 µL) or 2 drops (70 µL) of 0.5% fluorescein. A Schirmer strip was inserted in the ventral conjunctival fornix for 10 s at the following times: each 10 min for 100 min, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. (ii) In vitro - Schirmer strips were placed for 10 s in contact with microplate wells containing 1 or 2 drops of 0.5% fluorescein. In both experiments, the fluorescein-impregnated Schirmer strips were immediately imaged, and the area and intensity of fluorescein uptake were analyzed with ImageJ software. For the in vitro experiment, images were evaluated by the same examiner (repeatability) or two examiners (reproducibility). RESULTS: Photography-based FCT was easy to perform and showed high repeatability and reproducibility (coefficients of variation ≤2.75%). In vivo, the area and intensity of fluorescein uptake on Schirmer strips were significantly greater at 30 min and 40 min post- fluorescein instillation in the 2 drops vs. 1 drop groups (p ≤ 0.044). Compared to baseline, the residual fluorescein uptake on Schirmer strips was < 5% at 60 min and 90 min in the 1 drop and 2 drops groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Photography-based FCT is a practical and reliable diagnostic tool with various clinical and research applications in veterinary medicine. Instillation of two drops provided greater amount and longer retention on the anesthetized canine ocular surface than a single drop. Fluorescein clearance time of a single drop in dolichocephalic dogs is 60 min.