Multiple ocular developmental defects in four closely related alpacas.

Objective: To describe the clinical, gross pathologic, and histopathologic findings for a visually impaired 5.8-year-old female alpaca with multiple ocular abnormalities, as well as the clinical findings for three closely related alpacas.

Animals Studied: Four alpacas.

Oxidative stress increases in retinas of dogs in acute glaucoma but not in chronic glaucoma.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that oxidative stress occurs early in the pathogenesis of glaucoma in dogs.

Animals: Sections from eight control retinas and 25 retinas from dogs with primary glaucoma.

Methods: For retinas embedded in paraffin, sections were immunohistochemically stained for malondialdehyde (MDA) and 3-nitrotyrosine (NT).

Retinal ganglion cell distribution and visual acuity in alpacas (Vicugna pacos).

Objective: To investigate the distribution of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and visual acuity in alpacas (Vicugna pacos) through Brn-3a immunofluorescent labeling.

Procedures: Five eyes from four healthy alpacas with normal ophthalmic examination findings were included in the study. The axial length of the globes was measured before fixation.

Malignant transformation of a putative eyelid papilloma to squamous cell carcinoma in a dog.

A 6-year-old female spayed Chihuahua was presented for the evaluation of generalized pigmented cutaneous masses, one of which was present on the lower right eyelid. The dog was not on immunosuppressive medications and did not have historical or laboratory evidence of underlying endocrine disease, including hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction of a cutaneous biopsy from the left antebrachium containing representative lesions confirmed viral papillomatosis.

Tear production in canine neonates--evaluation using a modified Schirmer tear test.

Purpose: The ability of human newborns to produce tears has been a subject of controversy in the literature since the mid-20th century, and there has been considerable debate as to whether they are able to produce tears. Recently, it was established that total tear secretion (reflex + basal) in full-term infants is similar to those of adults whereas both reflex and basal tear production is reduced in premature babies. The objectives of this study were to assess whether newborn dogs have measurable aqueous tear production at the fourth week of life and to evaluate a modified Schirmer tear test (mSTT) as a useful method for measuring neonatal tear production in dogs.

Results of Schirmer tear test in clinically normal llamas (Lama glama).

Purpose: To determine the normal reference range for Schirmer tear test (STT) values in clinically normal llamas (Lama glama)

Animals: Nine captive llamas (Lama glama) (seven females and two males) were used in this study.

Procedure: Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed without chemical restraint. STT I values were evaluated in both eyes of all llamas using a commercial STT strip of a single lot number (Schirmer-Tränentest(®), Germany).

Histologic evaluation of the immediate effects of diamond burr debridement in experimental superficial corneal wounds in dogs.

Purpose: To evaluate the corneal changes immediately after diamond burr debridement of superficial corneal wounds in dogs. Spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs) are the most common form of canine recurrent corneal ulcers. The diamond burr has been used in the management of corneal lesions in humans since 1983.

Evaluation of the ocular penetration of topical alpha-luminol (Galavit®/GVT®).

Purpose: Oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. It has also been implicated as part of the pathogenic mechanisms in the development of glaucoma. Alpha-luminol has shown profound anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in both experimental animal and human clinical studies.

Ophthalmology of South american camelids.

In the past 10 years, information about South American camelid anatomy, physiology, medicine, and surgery has increased exponentially, including information about the eye. Although trauma-related diseases are the most common eye problems for which camelids are presented to veterinarians, there have recently been many anecdotal reports and published case reports of camelids having ocular malignancies and potentially hereditary ocular abnormalities. The increased number of ocular diseases being reported may be because of increased recognition of camelid diseases or an increase in these diseases as a result of restricted gene pools as a consequence of inbreeding.

Iridociliary melanoma with secondary lens luxation: distinctive findings in a long-horned cowfish (Lactoria cornuta).

This report describes a long-horned cowfish, which was diagnosed with buphthalmia and lens sub-luxation in the right eye, conditions that progressed to complete anterior lens luxation and secondary keratoconus. Three months after the initial evaluation, a pigmented mass was observed protruding from the vitreous. An enucleation was performed under general anesthesia.

Epizootiologic survey of Mycobacterium bovis in wildlife and farm environments in northern Michigan.

Bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, has reemerged in northern Michigan, USA, with detections in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 1994 and in cattle in 1998. Since then, significant efforts have been directed toward reducing deer densities in the area in the hopes of reducing the bovine TB prevalence rate in deer and eliminating spillover of the disease into cattle. Despite the success of the efforts to reduce deer densities, additional cattle herds have become infected.

alpha-Luminol prevents decreases in glutamate, glutathione, and glutamine synthetase in the retinas of glaucomatous DBA/2J mice.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that in DBA/2J mice, oxidative stress decreases glutamine synthetase (GS) levels resulting in a loss of neuronal glutamate and that the antioxidant alpha-luminol (GVT) decreases this stress and glutamate loss in some types of glaucoma.

Animals: DBA/2J mice were separated into two groups, of which one was not treated, and the other treated with GVT in the drinking water. At 7 months of age, retinas were examined from five untreated DBA/2J mice, seven GVT-treated mice, and five C57BL/6 mice (negative controls).

Relationship of the iridocorneal angle, as measured using ultrasound biomicroscopy, with post-operative increases in intraocular pressure post-phacoemulsification in dogs.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of the iridocorneal angle as it appears on ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) to increases in IOP post-phacoemulsification in the canine eye. Animals studied 47 eyes of 28 dogs of various age, sex, and breed.

Methods: The ciliary process and limbus were used as a reference points to measure the angle opening distance (AOD), which was set by multiplying 0.

The single-shot GnRH immunocontraceptive vaccine (GonaCon) in white-tailed deer: comparison of several GnRH preparations.

Problem: An effective, single-injection, multi-year, GnRH contraceptive agent is needed to control reproduction in overabundant white-tailed deer populations.

Method Of Study: Two GnRH conjugates, GonaCon (GnRH-KLH) and GonaCon-B (GnRH-blue protein), were prepared in emulsion form as one-injection and two-injection immunocontraceptive vaccine formulations. In addition, the GnRH-KLH protein conjugate was lyophilized and suspended in AdjuVac adjuvant to produce a fifth vaccine formulation.

Loss of glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity from the retina in canine primary glaucoma.

Purpose: Changes in retinal glutamate distribution occur in primary glaucoma (PG) in dogs. Although the redistribution resembles that induced by ischemia, decreases in glutamine synthetase (GS) activity may also induce a similar glutamate redistribution. We examined the distribution of GS, glutamate, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for reactive glia, in PG retinas by immunohistochemistry to determine whether decreases in GS and formation of reactive glia are associated with glutamate redistribution and neuronal damage.

Bilateral nasolacrimal duct atresia in a cria.

A 2-month-old, male alpaca had a 1-month history of mucoid ocular discharge from the left eye. Signalment, history and clinical findings were suggestive of a congenital nasolacrimal outflow obstruction. A dacryocystorhinogram confirmed bilateral nasolacrimal duct atresia, which involved the distal half of both nasolacrimal ducts.

Retinal pigment epithelial damage, breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, and retinal inflammation in dogs with primary glaucoma.

Objective: This paper aims to determine if abnormalities of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retinal inflammation occur in primary glaucoma.

Procedure: Twenty-three canine globes with primary glaucoma, goniodysgenesis, and elevated intraocular pressure were evaluated. Sections from 6 control and 23 glaucomatous canine globes were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin B4, or immunohistochemically stained for CD3 or albumin.

Microvessel loss, vascular damage and glutamate redistribution in the retinas of dogs with primary glaucoma.

Objective: Vascular damage and ischemia-like changes in glutamate distribution occur in primary glaucoma (PG) in dogs. We measured the microvessel density in PG retinas to determine whether microvessel loss may induce ischemia and glutamate redistribution.

Animals Studied: Sections from 12 control and 33 glaucomatous dog retinas.

Canine and feline emergency room visits and the lunar cycle: 11,940 cases (1992-2002).

Objective: To determine the frequency of canine and feline emergency visits with respect to the lunar cycle.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 11,940 dogs and cats evaluated on an emergency basis during an 11-year period.

Evaluation of retinal images for identifying individual dogs.

Objective: To F whether vessels in the ocular fundus changed over the lifetime of Beagles and whether any changes were substantial enough to likely preclude positive identification of individual dogs by use of their retinal vascular patterns.

Animals: 18 Beagles.

Procedures: Fundic photographs of both eyes of 18 Beagles taken at 1 or 3, 5, and 7 or 9 years of age were digitalized.

Primary closure of the corneas of two Great Horned owls after resection of nonhealing ulcers.

Two Great Horned owls were presented to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for evaluation of corneal lesions. Each bird had a corneal ulcer and bullous keratopathy. Following unsuccessful attempts at medical and surgical management, the corneal defects in each bird were treated with penetrating keratoplasties and conjunctival pedicle grafts.

Assessment of glutamate loss from the ganglion cell layer of young DBA/2J mice with glaucoma.

Objective: To determine whether glutamate contents are decreased in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of retinas of DBA/2J mice with glaucoma, compared with unaffected control mice.

Sample Population: 20 eyes from DBA/2J mice (9-week-old mice [n = 8] and 4- [4], 6- [4], and 12-month-old [4] mice) and 17 eyes from control CD-1 (7) and C57/BL6 (10) mice of similar age.

Procedure: After euthanasia, the eyes were rapidly dissected and fixed.

Depletion of taurine and glutamate from damaged photoreceptors in the retinas of dogs with primary glaucoma.

Objective: To determine whether taurine and glutamate contents are reduced in damaged photoreceptors in dogs with primary glaucoma (PG) in a manner consistent with an ischemia-like release of both of these amino acids from damaged cells.

Sample Population: Retinas from 6 dogs with PG and 3 control dogs.

Procedure: Serial, semithin sections of each canine retina were stained with toluidine blue to identify damaged photoreceptors or via immunogold techniques to quantify taurine and glutamate content in retinal cells.

Evaluation of glutamate loss from damaged retinal cells of dogs with primary glaucoma.

Objective: To determine whether retinal damage in dogs with primary glaucoma (PG) is consistent with ischemia-induced glutamate toxicosis.

Sample Population: Retinal tissue sections from 25 dogs with PG and 12 normotensive control dogs.

Procedure: Retinal sections from control and glaucomatous dogs were stained for morphometric and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) analyses to determine whether retinal damage was consistent with glutamate toxicosis.

Indium-111 labeled vitamin B12 imaging of a ciliary adenoma with concurrent grade 2 soft tissue sarcoma of the leg in a Labrador Retriever.

An 11-year-old, male castrated, Labrador Retriever was evaluated for the presence of rapidly growing concurrent leg and intraocular masses. Metastasis was noted in the chest at time of initial presentation. Indium-111 labeled vitamin B12 imaging was performed, and there was significant uptake by both primary tumors and the lung metastases.