Search

Objective: To evaluate bacterial isolates from corneal stromal ulcerations in dogs and cats in the Netherlands, review their antibiotic susceptibility, determine whether recent topical treatment affected bacterial culture results, and investigate whether (multi‐drug) resistance patterns changed over time. Animals studied: Client‐owned dogs and cats were diagnosed with corneal stromal ulceration at the Utrecht University Clinic for Companion Animals between 2012 and 2019. Procedures: Retrospective analysis. Results: In total, 163 samples were collected from 122 dogs (130 samples) and 33 cats. Positive cultures were obtained from 76 canine and 13 feline samples (59% and 39%, respectively) and included Staphylococcus (42 in dogs, 8 in cats), Streptococcus (22 in dogs, 2 in cats), and Pseudomonas (9 in dogs, 1 in cats) species. Significantly fewer positive cultures were found in dogs and cats previously treated with topical antibiotics (χ2 = 6.52, p =.011 and χ2 = 4.27, p =.039, respectively). Bacterial resistance to chloramphenicol was more common in dogs previously treated with chloramphenicol (χ2 = 5.24, p =.022). The incidence of acquired antibiotic resistance did not increase significantly over time. In dogs, the incidence of multi‐drug‐resistant isolates increased significantly between 2012–2015 and 2016–2019 (9.4% vs. 38.6%, p =.0032). Conclusions: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas species were the most common bacteria associated with canine and feline corneal stromal ulcerations. Previous treatment with antibiotics affected bacterial culture results and antibiotic sensitivity. Although the overall incidence of acquired antibiotic resistance did not change over time, the incidence of multi‐drug‐resistant isolates in dogs increased over an 8‐year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe the signalment, ophthalmic examination findings, and follow‐up of dogs affected with a previously unreported retrocorneal pigmentary lesion. Materials and Methods: Retrospective record evaluation spanning 2009‐2019. Results: Retrocorneal pigmentary lesions were described in 34 patients (46 eyes). German Shepherds (n = 7), Jack Russel terriers (n = 5), and terrier crosses (n = 4) made up 16/34 (47.1%) of the cases. The mean age was 13.5 years (range 1.4‐14.2 years), and 16/30 (53.3%) dogs were female. Most dogs were affected unilaterally (22/34 (64.7%)), the others bilaterally, and 5/34 (14.7%) were referred for it while the others were incidentally diagnosed. The lesions affected the ventral, peripheral, inner cornea and had a round/undulated leading edge. The number of corneal clock hours affected was known for 41/46 (89.1%) eyes and involved 1‐3 clock hours in 32/41 (78.1%) eyes, 4‐6 in 6/41 (14.6%), 7‐9 in 2/41 (4.9%), and 10 in 1/41 (2.4%). The central cornea was affected in 9/46 (19.6%) eyes, and in 5/9 (55.6%), the median corneal clarity score was G2 (scale: G0‐G4). The commonest additional findings included free‐floating uveal cysts (11/34 dogs, 32.4%), cataracts (6/34 dogs, 17.6%), and primary glaucoma (5/34 dogs, 14.7%). Gonioscopy was available in 16/34 (47.1%) dogs and was normal except in primary glaucoma cases. Follow‐up was documented in 13/34 (38.2%) dogs with a mean follow‐up of 17 months (range: 5‐26 months). Lesion progression was documented in 6/13 (46.2%) dogs. Conclusions: Retrocorneal pigmentation occurs as a slowly progressive lesion of older dogs that could impact vision. Histological studies of affected eyes are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]