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An 8-year-old female pre-metamorphic axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) was examined for a suspected anterior lens luxation. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed two lens-like structures in the anterior chamber of the right eye (OD), each with cataractous change. Ultrasound biomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed without sedation, and revealed small lenticular structures each with distinct nuclei and cortices. Although a distinct connection of the two lenticular structures could not be definitively ruled out, the structures appeared separate. Each of the lenticular structures was closely associated with its respective iris leaflet. This report demonstrates application of advanced imaging for diagnostic use in axolotl ophthalmology, showing that imaging of the lens can be performed without sedation, topical anesthetic, nor contact gel with high diagnostic quality. Although two distinct lenses were diagnosed with no historical evidence of trauma, the small sizes of each lenticular structure, with no detectable connection between them, are suggestive of a possible regenerative abnormality. This report opens discussion for the regenerative capabilities of the pre-metamorphic adult axolotl and possible implementations of their use in regenerative medicine research for the development of future therapies.

A ubiquitous research finding in regional and national studies is that at least 40% of persons with mental disorders cannot access mental health services, and pharmacotherapy in particular. The American Psychological Association's (APA) designated programs for the provision of education and training in clinical psychopharmacology can be of great help in alleviating this national need. We address key developments relevant to the foundation of a predoctoral model of clinical psychopharmacology education and training. To this end, an overview of the Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) is presented. TCSPP is now enrolling its eleventh consecutive cohort of MSCP students, many of whom are doctoral students who are concurrently attending various APA accredited Health Service Psychology (HSP) programs. We provide two predoctoral routes for completing MSCP training: (a) a route allowing for the creation of concentrations in clinical psychopharmacology in Health Service Psychology (HSP) doctoral programs, providing up to half of MSCP coursework; and (b) a joint doctoral PsyD or PhD/MSCP program meeting APA accreditation and designation standards integrated into a 5-year curriculum to impart HSP graduates with the competencies to provide both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. We conclude with a discussion about the future direction of predoctoral clinical psychopharmacology education and training. Given its emphasis on neuroscience and interdisciplinary health care, such curricular models may help to address the nation's immediate mental health care needs, while serving to enhance the sustainability of HSP education and professional practice in the 21st Century. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Background:Polyautoimmunity is the expression of more than one autoimmune disease in a single patient. This report documents polyautoimmunity in a mixed breed dog with concurrent uveitis, cutaneous depigmentation, and polymyositis. Case presentation: A 1-year-old male neutered mixed breed dog was presented for progressive generalized leukotrichia and leukoderma, bilateral panuveitis, and masticatory muscle atrophy. The latter progressed to myositis of lingual, pharyngeal, and masticatory muscles confirmed by biopsy. Temporalis muscle was completely replaced by adipose and fibrous tissue, and necrotic myofibers with extensive infiltration of mononuclear cells indicated active myositis of lingual muscle. Skin biopsies showed severe melanin clumping in epidermis, hair follicles, and hair shafts, and perifollicular pigmentary incontinence. Uveitis, depigmentation, and polymyositis were diagnosed based on clinical, histological, and laboratory findings. Conclusions:To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of concurrent uveitis, progressive cutaneous depigmentation, and polymyositis involving the masticatory muscles in a dog.

PURPOSE To provide a descriptive investigation about relevant features of the crested caracara's eye (Caracara plancus) and bony orbit, as well as provide data for ophthalmic tests. METHODS Morphological observations and the following diagnostic tests were performed: Schirmer tear test (STT), conjunctival flora evaluation, corneal touch threshold (CTT), intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), B-mode ocular biometry, palpebral fissure length (PFL), and corneal diameter (CD) in 19 healthy birds, plus two macerated skulls. Not all birds were used for each test. RESULTS STT: 7.84 ± 3.05 mm/min; CTT: 2.46 ± 1.10 cm; IOP: 19.18 ± 3.07 mmHg; CCT: 0.31 ± 0.02 mm; PFL: 13.32 ± 1.06 mm; CD: 10.26 ± 2.43 mm; Axial globe length: 1.89 ± 0.06 cm; Anterior chamber depth: 0.27 ± 0.06 cm; Lens axial length: 4.55 ± 0.06 cm; Vitreous chamber depth: 1.2 ± 0.07 cm. The most frequent conjunctival bacterial isolates were Corynebacterium sp. (10/23.8%), Staphylococcus sp. (9/21.42%), Streptococcus sp. (7/16.6%), and E. coli (7/16.66%). The large lateral part of the palatine bone likely plays a role in the ventral protection of the globe against the impact of prey. Observed results are generally reflective of increased body mass compared to other Falconiformes, with values approaching those of similar sized Accipitriformes. CONCLUSIONS These data may help veterinarians recognize peculiar morphologic features and perform a more accurate diagnosis of eye diseases of this avian species.

To describe the most common ocular lesions and demonstrate the frequency of ophthalmic involvement in a group of cats with systemic sporotrichosis.Two hundred seventy-four cats diagnosed with systemic sporotrichosis. The inclusion criteria included previous positive cytopathological examination, histopathological examination, or fungal culture.In a prospective case-control study, 274 cats diagnosed with systemic sporotrichosis underwent ophthalmic evaluation and received treatment for systemic sporotrichosis. Of these animals, 63 had ocular abnormalities which were recorded, and conjunctivitis was scored from 0 to 5. Diagnostic techniques utilized included fungal culture, as well as cytopathological (10 eyes; 10 cats), and histopathological examination of the palpebral conjunctiva and eyes (2 eyes).Cytopathological and histopathological examination of the conjunctiva, as well as fungal culture, proved to be important tests for the detection of Sporothrix sp. Five cats without the evidence of ophthalmic abnormalities also had a positive fungal culture. The identified ocular lesions in animals with systemic sporotrichosis included increased serous discharge (79 eyes; 53 cats), blepharoconjunctivitis (33 eyes; 25 cats), conjunctivitis (39 eyes, 20 cats), blepharitis (9 eyes; 8 cats), uveitis (5 eyes; 3 cats), and Florida keratopathy-like lesions (2 eyes; 1 cat).Sporotrichosis should be considered a differential diagnosis for conjunctivitis and blepharoconjunctivitis, especially in endemic areas. Fungal culture and cytopathology of ocular discharge and histopathological examinations of the conjunctiva are important for the diagnosis of ophthalmic sporotrichosis, although not all cats underwent laboratory testing in this study. Ocular discharge could be a source of contagion transmission.

Background: Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is one of the main causes of blindness in dogs. Despite its clinical importance, there is limited epidemiological information available, particularly in South America. Aim: The main objective of this study was to perform a retrospective, and prospective analysis of PRA in dogs admitted at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Brazil. Methods: Medical records of dogs admitted between 2014 and 2018 were selected through the archives of the Comparative Ophthalmology Laboratory (LABOCO). A total of 130 dogs with medical records indicating clinical signs suggestive of PRA, independent of the electroretinography (ERG) confirmation, were selected. In order to investigate common characteristics, each patient´s clinical history, ophthalmic examination, and visual status were reviewed (obstacle course, pupillary light reflex, dazzle reflex, visual tracking to a cotton ball, and menace responses). Additionally, a prospective study was performed, where flash electroretinography (FERG) was performed on 30 animals with clinical signs suggestive of PRA, and 14 animals were selected for fundus photography. Data was assessed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 2055 dogs were evaluated between January 2014 and December 2018. Of those, 130 animals were presumptively diagnosed with PRA (6.33%), consisting of18 different breeds and 27 dogs with a mixed pedigree. Poodles were the most prevalent breed (n=26;20.00%), followed by Cocker Spaniels (n=19; 14.62%). In the reported caseload, Pomeranians showed a considerably higher odds ratio for PRA development (15.36). Conclusion: Pomeranians presented a high odds ratio, suggesting that further studies may be performed with breeds with a high potential for developing this disease.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical findings, multimodal corneal imaging features and treatment in canine patients diagnosed with endotheliitis. ANIMALS STUDIED: Four canine patients met inclusion criteria for bilateral corneal disease with endothelial inflammation and secondary corneal edema that responded to topical anti-inflammatory treatment. METHODS: The patients selected underwent a complete ophthalmic examination with emphasis on the cornea including ultrasound pachymetry (USP), Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT), in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), and digital slit lamp photography. RESULTS: All patients in this study demonstrated thickened corneas due to edema with USP and FD-OCT. With IVCM, mild to severe polymegathism and pleomorphism of corneal endothelial cells, reduced endothelial cell density (ECD), hyperreflective keratic precipitates (KPs) and extracellular debris as well as hyporeflective pseudoguttata were observed. With FD-OCT, hyperreflective KPs were commonly observed on the inferior cornea. Clinical examination and advanced imaging results were consistent with a diagnosis of endotheliitis. All patients initially responded to topical anti-inflammatory treatment and required continued therapy. All patients received topical anti-inflammatory treatment and two patients received topical netarsudil, a rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Endotheliitis should be considered for canine patients with bilateral edema that is most severe in the inferior cornea. Careful inspection of Descemet’s membrane-endothelial complex should be performed for KPs or inflammatory debris. Chronic administration of topical anti-inflammatories may be necessary to prevent flare-ups of endotheliitis.

Birds are among the most visually proficient group of animals on the planet; however, their inability to visualize and discriminate translucent glass structures results in an extreme number of deaths worldwide from high-speed collisions. Despite reports of avian glass collisions in North America, only a few studies have been developed to understand this problem in South America, and none evaluated radiographic and postmortem findings. One hundred cadavers were examined radiographically and postmortem, and data from 186 collision reports were analyzed for seasonality (website and manual reports and cadavers). A total of 34 different species of birds within 22 families were evaluated for this study, with the rufous-bellied thrush (Turdus rufiventris; n = 12), eared dove (Zenaida auriculata; n = 12), and ruddy ground dove (Columbina talpacoti; n = 10) being the most common species. Only 6 (27.7%) migratory species were reported: Sick's swift (Chaetura meridionalis), small-billed elaenia (Elaenia parvirostris), Black Jacobin (Florisuga fusca), Great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus), Double-collared seedeater (Sporophila caerulescens), and Creamy-bellied thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus). Males (51) were more frequently reported than females (5), and 50.1% of the males had active gonads. Sex was unable to be determined in 44 birds. The most common radiographic lesion, noted in 16 of 82 (19.5%) animals, was loss of coelomic definition, suggestive of hemorrhage. Prevalent postmortem findings included skull hemorrhages (58/75, 77.3%) and encephalic contusions (47/73, 64.4%), followed by coelomic hemorrhages (33/81, 40.7%). Most of the window collisions (61/186, 32.8%) occurred during spring, the most common breeding season of avian species in Brazil. Cranioencephalic trauma was identified as the primary cause of mortality associated with birds flying into glass windows. Migration does not appear to be the main predisposing factor for window collisions by birds in Brazil. Increased activity and aggression related to breeding season, especially in males, may be a more important predisposing factor for window collision accidents.

To describe ophthalmic examination and diagnostic values for Schirmer tear test (STT), intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal horizontal diameter (CHD), palpebral fissure length (PFL), fundoscopy, and palpebral conjunctiva microbiota from healthy giant anteaters.Twelve giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), 11 adults and one juvenile, five males and seven females.The animals were submitted to general anesthesia and ophthalmic evaluation with portable slit-lamp biomicroscope, Finoff transilluminator, and fundoscopy, as well as STT, bacterial culture from palpebral conjunctiva, rebound tonometry IOP, and measurement of PFL and CHD. Data compiled were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey tests.The results (mean ± standard deviation) were as follows: STT 8.04 ± 6.21 mm/min; IOP 10.92 ± 2.45 mmHg; PFL 0.75 ± 0.11 cm; CHD 0.96 ± 0.10 cm. Out of the 24 eyes swab samples for bacterial culture, 17 were positive, with three genera of Gram-positive bacteria identified Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus sp., and Corynebacterium sp. Gram-negative bacteria were not isolated from any of the samples.As conservation work in this vulnerable species continues, this report on basic ophthalmic examination and diagnostic parameters will be helpful improve their treatment and care. More ophthalmic studies are encouraged in animals within the Pilosa order.

Background Imaging features obtained with Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) for corneal stromal disorders have been sparsely reported in dogs. This case report is a compilation of imaging features for three cases of different stromal disorders of the canine cornea which have not yet been reported elsewhere. Case presentation Lipid deposition in case 1 appeared as needle-shaped hyperreflective lines along the collagen lamellae, which correlated histologically with lipid clefts. In case 2, glycosaminoglycan accumulation by mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 caused diffuse stromal hyperreflectivity and depletion of keratocytes on IVCM and was associated with secondary corneal degeneration presumed to be calcium deposition. In case 3, posterior corneal stromal opacities in the absence of ocular inflammation were identified. Hyperreflective particles were scattered in the middle and posterior corneal stroma on FD-OCT. With IVCM, hyperreflective deposits were identified within keratocytes and the number of enlarged keratocytes containing hyperreflective deposits increased towards the posterior stroma. The bilateral, non-inflammatory nature and unique appearance with IVCM is most consistent with a posterior stromal dystrophy reminiscent of pre-Descemet corneal dystrophy described in humans. Conclusions In vivo multimodal corneal imaging facilitated instantaneous microstructural analysis and may be valuable in the differential diagnosis of corneal stromal disorders in veterinary clinical practice. The non-specific nature of imaging findings occurs in some conditions such as mucopolysaccharidosis, thus in vivo corneal imaging should be complemented with other gold standard methods of definitive diagnosis.

Mimicking natural anuran biology is a major challenge faced in the husbandry management of frogs, and the quandary of lipid keratopathy in frogs under human care has plagued keepers and practitioners for decades. Unlike corneal lipid dystrophy or lipidosis secondary to degeneration, where there is limited or no vascular in-growth or inflammatory response, lipid keratopathies are associated with vascularization, most often following the appearance of lipid. Hemorrhage from stromal neovascularization has not been described in a frog; however, the presence of vessels in lipid keratopathy certainly heralds the possibility. We report a rather unique case of lipid keratopathy in a 6-year-old female Mission golden-eyed tree frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix) that not only had concurrent intrastromal hemorrhage, but blue plasmoid staining of the corneal stroma. Current views on both the function of blue plasma in several species and lipid keratopathy are briefly discussed. Overall, evidence suggests that the cause of lipid keratopathy is probably multifactorial and will not successfully be rectified until anuran biology and husbandry are better understood.

The keen visual systems of birds have been relatively well-studied. The foundations of avian vision rest on their cone and rod photoreceptors. Most birds use four cone photoreceptor types for color vision, a fifth cone for achromatic tasks, and a rod for dim-light vision. The cones, along with their oil droplets, and rods are conserved across birds – with the exception of a few shifts in spectral sensitivity – despite taxonomic, behavioral and ecological differences. Here, however, we describe a novel photoreceptor organelle in a group of New World flycatchers (Empidonax spp.) in which the traditional oil droplet is replaced with a complex of electron-dense megamitochondria surrounded by hundreds of small, orange oil droplets. The photoreceptors with this organelle were unevenly distributed across the retina, being present in the central region (including in the fovea), but absent from the retinal periphery and the area temporalis of these insectivorous birds. Of the many bird species with their photoreceptors characterized, only the two flycatchers described here (E. virescens and E. minimus) possess this unusual retinal structure. We discuss the potential functional significance of this unique sub-cellular structure, which might provide an additional visual channel for these small predatory songbirds.