Contrast-enhanced Ocular Ultrasonography in Brachycephalic Dogs

Background: Contrast Enchantment Ultrasonography (CEUS) allows for detection of vascular flows that are difficult to detect with traditional methods. There were no reports found in the literature of the use of CEUS to evaluate the vascular pattern of the eye of brachycephalic dogs. The objective of this paper is to describe ultrasound findings observed in the eyes of healthy brachycephalic dogs subjected to CEUS.Materials, Methods & Results: Thirty adult brachycephalic dogs were subjected to physical, laboratorial, and ophthalmic examination. The eye structures were evaluated using CEUS after intravenous administration of Sonovue®. Contrast enhancement was seen in 52 eyes with a homogeneous and centrifugal filling pattern. Structures adequately enhanced consisted of the optic nerve, the retina-choroid-sclera complex (RCSC), and the ciliary body. The optic nerve was hyperenhanced and the other structures were isoenhanced.  The wash-in time, peak enhancement time, and wash-out time were similar for both right and left eyes. Mean values and standard deviation were calculated for contrast wash-in time, peak enhancement time, and wash-out time in the optic nerve, RCSC, and ciliary body.Discussion: Ultrasound is an important diagnostic resource for veterinary ophthalmology and provides relevant information for the detection of pathological conditions of the eyes of animals. The contrast-enhanced ultrasound allows evaluation of tissues at the capillary level (macro and microcirculation), complementing the vascular ultrasound scan. This study brings original information on contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings for evaluation of eyes in dogs, creating novel diagnostic possibilities for the use of this imaging technique in veterinary ophthalmology. The vascular pattern identified in this study, with enhancement starting at the region of the optic nerve and retina, and then ciliary body (with the optic nerve as the most hyperenhanced structure) is consistent with the expected pattern for dogs without ophthalmic disorders. The posterior ciliary artery is primarily responsible for supplying the optic nerve, later irrigating the retina, lateral and medial segments of the ciliary body. Some works on the evaluation of orbital vascular pattern in humans report a significant variability on anatomical course of the ophthalmic artery and its branches. However, in our study, no significant variation was observed on vascular flow of dogs of different brachycephalic breeds. Retinal blood vessels consist of arteries and veins that emerge from the optic nerve region and from the choroid. Contrast enhancement at the region of the RCSC is justified by the presence of vessels from the choroid that are irrigated by posterior ciliary arteries and drained by vorticose veins, since this structure is responsible for the nutrition of the external portion of the retina. Wash-in, peak enhancement, and wash-out times were similar for right and left eyes owing to anatomical and physiological similarities in vascularization. The homogeneous contrast-filling pattern is of paramount importance, since it will allow differentiation of abnormalities in sick animals, such as partial or total loss of capillarization, which will cause heterogeneity or absence of capillary fill. It will also be important for early diagnosis and evaluation of vascular alterations, especially ischemic changes, especially glaucoma, intraocular neoplasm, progressive retina atrophy, and uveitis. CEUS gives relevant information about the vascular pattern of the eyes of brachycephalic dogs, and is a quick, non-invasive, and safe exam

Parâmetros oftálmicos em cães adultos da raça Shih Tzu

Ocular surface diseases are often diagnosed in brachycephalic dogs, since their eyes are more exposed. Among the most commonly affected breeds, Shih Tzu dogs are part listed and this breed’s ophthalmic standards are not totally known. In this study ophthalmic standards of this breed were partly studied under physical restraint. Schirmer tear test, break up time test, aesthesiometry, biomicroscopy, non contact specular microscopy, laser flaremetry, applanation tonometry, ultrasonography and ophthalmoscopy were carried in 48 eyes of 24 male and female dogs, with ages from two to four years, weighing between five and 10 kg. All dogs were from a breeding kennel. Descriptive statistics was applied to the data. Mean and standard error for Schirmer tear test was 26.145±0.803 mm/min, for break up time test was 13.668±0.538 s, for aesthesiometry was 2.395±0.071 cm. When evaluated with biomicroscopy 70.83% of the eyes showed medial entropion, 42% showed caruncle trichiasis, 33% distichiasis, 27% corneal opacity and 13% corneal melanosis. Mean and standard error for endothelial cell density was 2221.591±20.161cells/mm2, for endothelial cell hexagonality was 63.770±1.805 %; for endothelial cell area was 451.895±4.179 mm2; for central corneal thickness was 0.490±0.007 mm, for laser flaremetry was 1.720±0.216 PC/ms, for applanation tonometry was 16.118±0.460 mmHg, for axial lenght was 20.255±0.134 mm, for lens thickness was 6.624±0.031 mm, for anterior chamber was 4.064±0.109 mm and for vitreous chamber was 9.565±0.054 mm. Ophthalmoscopy findings were not different from previous reports in other breeds. According to the results obtained, ophthalmic Shih Tzu standards did not differ from reports in other breeds, except for break up time and Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometryAfecções da superfície ocular são frequentes em cães braquicefálicos, pela maior exposição do bulbo do olho e por suas intercorrências. Dentre as raças comumente acometidas, tem-se a Shih Tzu, cujos parâmetros oftálmicos não são conhecidos em sua plenitude e foram, em parte, avaliados nesta pesquisa. Sob contenção física, empregou-se o teste lacrimal de Schirmer, o de ruptura do filme lacrimal, a estesiometria, a biomicroscopia com lâmpada em fenda, a microscopia especular de não contato, a flaremetria a “laser”, a tonometria de aplanação, a ecografia e a oftalmoscopia. Foram estudados 48 olhos em 24 indivíduos machos ou fêmeas, com idades variando entre dois a quatro anos e peso entre cinco a 10 Kg, provenientes de canil de criação. Aos dados aplicou-se a estatística descritiva. Relativamente às médias e aos erros padrão, encontraram-se, quanto ao teste lacrimal de Schirmer, 26,145±0,803 mm/min e à ruptura do filme lacrimal, 13,668±0,538 s. À estesiometria, encontraram-se 2,395±0,071 cm. À biomicroscopia, observaram-se 70,83% dos olhos com entrópio de canto medial, 42% apresentaram pelos em carúncula medial, 33% distiquíase, 27% mácula e 13% melanose corneal. Médias e erros padrão, no que concerne à densidade de células endoteliais, foram de 2221,591±20,161 céls/mm2. Quanto à hexagonalidade, foram de 63,770±1,805 %; quanto à área, foram de 451,895±4,179 mm2; e em relação à espessura corneal, de 0,490±0,007 mm. À flaremetria a “laser”, encontraram-se 1,720±0,216 PC/ms e à tonometria, 16,118±0,460 mmHg. As médias e os erros padrão, à ultrassonografia, foram de 20,255±0,134 mm para diâmetro axial horizontal, de 6,624±0,031 mm para espessura da lente, de 4,064±0,109 mm para profundidade da câmara anterior e de 9,565±0,054 mm para a da vítrea O padrão observado à oftalmoscopia não divergiu do já reportado em indivíduos de ..

Persistent papillary membrane in Wistar laboratory rats ( Rattus Norvegicus, Albinus Variation, Wistar )

ABSTRACT: The aim of this research was to evaluate the presence of persistent pupillary membrane (PPM) in rats. Thirty rats between three and four months of age and weighing 300-500 grams, provided by the biothery section of the General Administration at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil, were subjected to ophthalmological examination by slit lamp biomicroscopy, fluorescein eye stain test and rebound tonometry. We found PPM with possible hereditary origin in 15 animals (50%)

Ophthalmic parameters in adult Shih Tzu dogs

Ocular surface diseases are often diagnosed in brachycephalic dogs. The ophthalmic parameters of the Shih Tzu dogs are evaluated in this study since this breed is among the most commonly affected by these diseases. In this study, ophthalmic parameters of this breed were partly studied under physical restraint. Schirmer tear test, breakup time test, aesthesiometry, biomicroscopy, non-contact specular microscopy, laser flaremetry, applanation tonometry, ultrasonography and ophthalmoscopy were carried in 48 eyes of 24 male and female dogs, aged from two to four years, weighing between 5 and 10kg. All dogs were from a breeding kennel. Descriptive statistics were applied to the data. Mean and standard error for Schirmer tear test was 26.145±0.803mm min-1; breakup time test, 13.668±0.538s; and aesthesiometry, 2.395±0.071cm. The biomicroscopy evaluation showed that 70.83% of the eyes had medial entropion; 42% caruncular trichiasis; 33% distichiasis, 27% mild paracentral corneal opacity; and 13% corneal melanosis. Mean and standard error for endothelial cell density was 2221.591±20.161cells mm-2; endothelial cell hexagonality, 63.770±1.805%; endothelial cell area, 451.895±4.179mm2; central corneal thickness, 0.490±0.007 mm; laser flaremetry, 1.720±0.216PC ms-1; applanation tonometry, 16.118±0.460mmHg; axial length, 20.255±0.134mm; lens thickness, 6.624±0.031mm; anterior chamber, 4.064±0.109mm; and vitreous chamber, 9.565±0.054mm. Ophthalmoscopy findings were not different from previous reports for other breeds. The results showed that the ophthalmic Shih Tzu parameters did not differ from other breeds according to data in the literature, except for the breakup time and Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry.Afecções da superfície ocular são frequentes em cães braquicefálicos. Dentre as raças comumente acometidas, tem-se a Shih Tzu, cujos parâmetros oftálmicos não são conhecidos em sua plenitude e o foram, em parte, avaliados nesta pesquisa. Sob contenção física, empregou-se o teste lacrimal de Schirmer, o de ruptura do filme lacrimal, a estesiometria, a biomicroscopia, a microscopia especular de não contato, a flaremetria a laser, a tonometria de aplanação, a ecografia e a oftalmoscopia. Foram estudados 48 olhos de 24 indivíduos machos ou fêmeas, com idades variando entre dois a quatro anos e peso entre cinco a 10kg. Aos dados, aplicou-se a estatística descritiva. Relativamente às médias e aos erros padrão, encontraram-se, quanto ao teste lacrimal de Schirmer, 26,145±0,803mm min-1 e, quanto à ruptura do filme lacrimal, 13,668±0,538s. À estesiometria, encontraram-se 2,395±0,071cm. À biomicroscopia, observaram-se 70,83% dos olhos com entrópio de canto medial, 42% apresentaram pelos em carúncula medial, 33% distiquíase, 27% opacidade paracentral e 13% melanose corneal. Médias e erros padrão, no que concerne à densidade de células endoteliais, foram de 2221,591±20,161céls mm-2. Quanto à hexagonalidade, foram de 63,770±1,805%; quanto à área, foram de 451,895±4,179mm2; em relação à espessura corneal, foram de 0,490±0,007mm. À flaremetria a laser, encontraram-se 1,720±0,216PC ms-1. À tonometria, 16,118±0,460mmHg. As médias e os erros padrão, à ultrassonografia, foram de 20,255±0,134mm para diâmetro axial horizontal; de 6,624±0,031mm, para espessura da lente; de 4,064±0,109mm, para profundidade da câmara anterior; e de 9,565±0,054mm, para a câmara vítrea. O padrão de imagens à oftalmoscopia não divergiu do já reportado em cães de outras raças. De consoante com os resultados obtidos, há como admitir que parâmetros de referência para cães adultos da raça Shih Tzu, estudados na presente pesquisa, não divergiram sobremaneira dos conhecidos para outras raças de cães, à exceção do tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal, cujos valores ficaram aquém da média para a espécie, e os da estesiometria de Cochet-Bonnet, que foram superiores

Non-contact specular microscopy in aphakic and pseudophakic dogs

Cataract is one of the most common ocular diseases in dogs, and phacoemulsification is considered its treatment of choice. Posterior capsular opacity (PCO) is a frequent complication and may occur weeks or months after the surgery. It is known that intraocular lenses (IOL) used for the correction of post-operative hypermetropia are an adjunctive aid in the prevention of PCOs, mainly the foldable acrylics designs with square and truncated edges. However, IOL placement may result in endothelial cell loss. This study evaluated the morphology and cellularity of the endothelium by non-contact specular microscopy in aphakic and pseudophakic dogs. Endothelial cell density, endothelial cell area, coefficient of variation and hexagonal cells percent were analyzed for each group and between groups. During all evaluation periods, endothelial cell density did not alter in any group. From days 7 to 30, endothelial cell density was higher in pseudophakic dogs. However, values returned to normal and, by the end of the study, no significant difference was observed. Cell area and variation coefficient did not differ in each group or between groups. Hexagonal cells percent significantly reduced after phacoemulsification in both groups. With time, this condition returned to initial values. When both groups were compared, hexagonal cells percent were decreased in the pseudophakic group, immediately after the surgeries.A catarata está entre as afecções oculares mais frequentes em cães, sendo a facoemulsificação o método que melhor se adequa à sua terapia. A opacidade de cápsula posterior (OCP) encontra-se entre as complicações mais comuns e se manifesta em semanas ou meses após a facectomia. Lentes intraoculares, empregadas na correção da hipermetropia pós-cirúrgica, contribuem para a prevenção das OCPs, especialmente as acrílicas dobráveis, com bordas truncadas ou quadradas. Entretanto, a sua implantação pode resultar na perda de células endoteliais. Com a pesquisa, propuseram-se avaliar a morfologia e a celularidade endoteliais, a microscopia especular de não contato, em pacientes afácicos e em pseudofácicos. Foram analisados a densidade celular, a área celular, o coeficiente de variação e o percentual de células hexagonais inter e entre os grupos. Ao longo dos momentos da avaliação, a densidade das células endoteliais não se alterou significativamente dentro dos grupos. Na comparação entre os grupos, ela foi maior nos pseudofácicos, em períodos que variaram de 7 a 30 dias, entretanto retornaram a valores próximos aos iniciais, tornando a diferença entre os dois grupos não significativa ao final da avaliação. Relativamente à área celular e ao coeficiente de variação, não houve diferença significativa, inter e entre os grupos. Houve diferença dentro dos grupos relativamente à hexagonalidade, com diminuição percentual após a facoemulsificação. As condições retornaram ao basal. Na comparação entre pacientes pseudofácicos e afácicos, houve diminuição nos pseudofácicos imediatamente à cirurgia.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP