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The objective of this study was to describe and compare the efficacy and duration of topical anaesthesia induced by 2 per cent lidocaine (L), 0.5 per cent bupivacaine (B) and 1 per cent ropivacaine (R) in the dog using 24 clinically healthy beagles with normal ocular examination. Dogs were randomly divided into three groups: 2 per cent lidocaine (n=8), 0.5 per cent bupivacaine (n=8) and 1 per cent ropivacaine (n=8). The baseline corneal touch threshold (CTT) was measured using a Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. Following baseline CTT measurement, a single drop of the assigned anaesthetic was applied to each eye and the CTT was measured bilaterally within one minute after administration and every five minutes until the basal CTT value was restored. Data were analysed with non-parametric analysis of variance models and Dunnet's test for post hoc analysis. One per cent ropivacaine was the most effective drug (LCTTmax=3 cm, BCTTmax=2 cm, RCTTmax=0 cm; P<0.001), and had the shortest latency (LLatency=5 minutes, BLatency=5 minutes, RLatency=1 minute; P<0.001) and the smallest AUC (LAUC=80 cm×minute, BAUC=68.25 cm×minute, RAUC=36.88 cm×minute; P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in the duration of corneal anaesthesia between the groups (P=0.09) and all topical anaesthetics tested reduced corneal sensitivity, although 1 per cent ropivacaine had the maximal and quickest anaesthetic effect. This drug could be used for specific diagnostic procedures where quick and short, but effective, corneal anaesthesia is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The aim of this prospective observational clinical study was to carry out a descriptive ophthalmic investigation in healthy newborn foals for the establishment of normal ocular anomalies found during the whole neonatal period. To date there have been no studies specifically addressing the normal ocular findings and variations of the eye and adnexa in foals during the neonatal period. Knowledge of the ocular characteristics at this early age will help equine practitioners to better identify ocular abnormalities. A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed by boarded ophthalmologists on all admitted healthy newborn foals. There were 52 foals included in the study grouped into those that were 1-day-old, younger than 5 days, aged 6-15 days and 16-21 days. Menace response was found to be absent in foals younger than 15 days. Pupillary light reflexes were present in all foals but were slower and incomplete in 14/14 1-day-old foals (100%) and in 7/21 foals aged 2-5 days (33%). Palpebral reflexes were positive in all foals. Ventromedial strabismus was bilaterally present in 8/14 1-day-old foals (57%) and in 4/21 foals aged 2-5 days (19%). Conjunctival congestion was observed in all groups. Conjunctival haemorrhages, perilimbal vascular ring, lens suture opacities and multifocal tapetal haemorrhages were exclusive findings from 1-day-old foals, with an incidence of 36, 21, 36 and 29%, respectively. The means of IOP readings were similar in all age groups. Hyaloid artery remnant and optic nerve head congestion were present in all 1-day-old foals (100%), decreasing in incidence with age. Ocular findings in new neonates are different from those observed in older neonates and should be considered when examining the foal's eye. Findings described in this study will help equine practitioners to more accurately diagnose discrete or unusual pathological changes in the newborn foal's eye according to their age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Septicemia in humans is described as a leading cause of uveitis, which eventually can induce blindness. Hypothesis/Objectives: Uveal inflammatory findings could be related to sepsis severity in newborn foals and might be used as an indirect indicator for survival. Animals: Seventy-four septic foals, 54 nonseptic foals, and 42 healthy foals. Methods: Prospective observational clinical study. A detailed blinded, ophthalmic examination was performed by boarded ophthalmologists on all admitted newborn foals. Foals were grouped as septic (when blood culture resulted positive or the sepsis score was ≥14), nonseptic, and controls. Based on blood culture results, the septic group was subdivided into bacteremic and nonbacteremic foals. Results: Blood culture was performed in 62/74 septic foals, from which 35 (56%) were bacteremic and 27 (44%) were nonbacteremic. Anterior uveitis was diagnosed in a significantly ( P < .005) higher number of septic/bacteremic foals (14/35, 40%) than in septic/nonbacteremic foals (5/27, 19%), nonseptic foals (4/54, 7%), and control foals (0%). Anterior chamber fibrin was only observed in 4/14 (29%) septic/bacteremic foals with anterior uveitis. Anterior uveitis was also associated with posterior uveitis in 6/35 (19%) septic/bacteremic foals. The diagnosis of uveitis was related to nonsurvival ( P= .001, odds ratio = 6.2, 95% confidence interval = 2.1–18.2). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Anterior uveitis is highly prevalent in septic newborn foals, especially in those with a positive blood culture, and it should be considered as a survival prognostic factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 4-year-old Andalusian horse was presented for examination following a 3-month history of exophthalmos of the right eye and a soft swelling of the right supraorbital fossa noted after blunt head trauma. Ultrasonographic examination of the swelling showed an anecogenic mass of 5 cm in diameter involving the retrobulbar space. Centesis of the mass through the supraorbital fossa was performed and yielded a serous fluid with 7.2 g/dL of total protein and density of 1040. No cells were seen in the sample. A tentative diagnosis of cyst was made. The cyst was surgically removed and the definitive histologic diagnosis was retrobulbar dermoid cyst. No recurrence has developed 18 months following the complete removal of the cyst capsule. To the authors’ knowledge, there are no previous reports of retrobulbar dermoid cysts in horses. Localization, causes and success of surgical treatment of dermoid cysts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained by recently introduced rebound tonometer (ICare®) and the well-known applanation tonometer Tonopen XL® in normal canine eyes. Methods In a prospective, randomized, single-center study, IOP measurements by ICare® and Tonopen XL® tonometers were compared in 160 nonpathologic canine eyes (80 dogs). Complete slit-lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy were performed on each dog. Rebound tonometry was performed first and immediately after topical anesthetic drops were instilled in both eyes. One minute after the application of the topical anesthetic, applanation tonometry was performed in both eyes. The intraocular pressures obtained by use of both techniques were compared by statistical analysis. Results The mean IOP readings were 9.158 mmHg (SD 3.471 mmHg) for the ICare® tonometer ( x) and 11.053 mmHg (SD 3.451 mmHg) for the Tonopen XL® readings ( y). The mean difference in intraocular pressures (−1.905 mmHg) was within clinically acceptable limits. The correlation coefficient ( r2) of the relationship within both tonometers was r2 = 0.7477. The corresponding linear regression between the tonometers readings was y = 0.6662 x + 4.942. Conclusions Intraocular pressures obtained with the ICare® rebound tonometer were concordant with the IOP readings obtained by applanation Tonopen XL®, but ICare® values were significantly ( P < 0.0001) lower. Rebound tonometry could be an appropriate tonometry method for routine clinical use after its calibration for canine eyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe fetal cardiac and hemodynamic development in the first trimester of pregnancy. Subjects and Methods: Forty-eight pregnancies were prospectively studied with transvaginal ultrasound and color Doppler. Fetal heart rate and size were documented together with the presence of inflow and outflow wave-forms and valve signals. Results: Heart rate and size showed a positive correlation with gestational age. At 6 weeks of gestation, 20% of the cardiac cycle was occupied by the isovolumic contraction time (ICT); the isovolumic relaxation time (IRT) occupied 16% and remained unchanged, while the ICT progressively shortened and was not measurable after 12 weeks. The peak inflow velocities had changed from monophasic to biphasic by 10 weeks of gestation. At 7 weeks of gestation, semilunar valves were detected in 10% of examinations and the atrioventricular valves in 3%. The detection rate for both valves at 12 weeks was > or = 90%. In pregnancies that miscarried, the detection rate for both was < 25%. Conclusions: The Doppler signals that characterize the heart during the first trimester suggest effective heart compliance by 12 weeks. Normal valve development can be inferred from non-invasive Doppler recordings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species composition and diversity were compared among twenty Mediterranean annual grasslands in northern and central California and central and southern Spain, encompassing climatic gradients and local sitevariation in topography and soils. Geographic proximity was more important than environmental factors such as climate, topography and parent material in predicting the species composition of these grasslands, with Californian and Spanish grasslands sharing only 9% of the species and geographically separated regions within each country sharingonly 20--32% of the species. This importance of geographic separation in predicting species composition suggests a strong role of dispersal limitation in determining current community composition. Mean species diversity was lower in Californian than in Spanish grasslands andwas negatively correlated with cover of annual grasses that tended to be greater in California than in Spain. However, there were few differences in species diversity among sites within either country and patterns of species diversity were unrelated to soil fertility or productivity. We suggest that current grazing regimes contribute to the greater abundance of grasses and lower species diversity of Californian than of Spanish grasslands. The apparent importance of dispersal limitation and grazing in explaining differences in species compositionand diversity between Californian and Spanish grasslands and within each country suggest that the structure of these grasslands has been and will continue to be sensitive to human influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study of neurological soft signs (NSS) in patients with Asperger syndrome may help us to elucidate the neurological basis of this disorder and to clarify its relationship with other neurodevelopmental disorders. The goal of this study was to compare the prevalence of NSS in a sample of patients with Asperger syndrome, early-onset psychosis and healthy controls., Method: NSS were assessed by means of the Neurological Evaluation Scale in a sample of 29 patients with Asperger syndrome (mean age = 12.86 ± 2.58 years), 30 patients with first-episode early-onset psychoses (mean age 14.17 ± 1.02 years) and 30 healthy controls (mean age 12.33 ± 2.69 years)., Results: Significant group differences were found between Asperger syndrome patients and healthy controls both in all the Neurological Evaluation Scale subscales and in the Neurological Evaluation Scale total score. There were no significant differences between both groups of patients in any of the Neurological Evaluation Scale scores., Conclusions: NSS are more prevalent in Asperger syndrome than in healthy controls. The NSS profile was not disorder-specific in our samples of patients with Asperger syndrome and early-onset psychoses., (© 2010 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)