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Candida species are the most common causes of sight-threatening fungal ocular infections in temperate regions of the world. Despite their relevance, little is known about the emergence of novel species and the molecular epidemiology of these infections. Here, we molecularly characterized 38 yeast isolates collected from patients diagnosed with endophthalmitis or keratitis at Massachusetts Eye and Ear from 2014 to 2021. Sequencing of the ITS1-5.8S-/ITS2 regions demonstrated that this population of yeasts was dominated by Candida spp. (37 out of 38; 97%), with 58% of the cases caused by C. albicans (n = 22) and the remaining by emerging non-albicans species, predominantly by C. parapsilosis (n = 8) and C. dubliniensis (n = 6). One isolate each was identified as C. tropicalis and Clavispora lusitaniae. Interestingly, all C. dubliniensis were isolated from endophthalmitis and most C. parapsilosis from keratitis. Multilocus sequence typing analysis of C. albicans showed a prevalence of CC-1 isolates that has DST69 as the putative founder, with 64% of them belonging to this clonal complex (CC). Isolates grouped within this cluster were more predominant in endophthalmitis (10 out of 14; 71%). One C. albicans CC-1 isolate was multi-azole resistant. In conclusion, we observed that nearly half of the ocular infections caused by yeasts are associated with C. albicans, with evidence for the emergence of non-albicans species that are differentially enriched in distinct ocular niches. Candida albicans isolates clustered within the predominant CC-1 group were particularly more common in endophthalmitis, demonstrating a potential pattern of ocular disease enrichment within this clade., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) play pivotal roles in cell-to-cell communication, and are involved in potential pathological and physiological cellular processes. The aim of this study was to understand the proteomic cargo of these vesicles, in a murine model of Aspergillus flavus (AF) endophthalmitis. EVs were isolated from A. flavus infected C57BL/6 mice eyes by differential ultracentrifugation at 24 h post infection (p.i) and isolated EVs were characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Exocet assay, and western blot. Proteomic profiling of EVs was then evaluated by mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and compared it with control uninfected mice. The average size of the EVs were 180-280 nm by DLS and the number of EVs increased to 1.55 × 1010 in infected mice in comparison to EVs from uninfected eye (1.24 × 109). Western blot was positive for CD9, CD63, and CD81 confirming the presence of EVs. LC-MS/MS analysis, identified 81 differentially expressed proteins, of these 22 were up-regulated and 59 were down-regulated. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed enrichment of lipid metabolism, protein complex binding, and transferase activity, and the proteins associated were Aquaporin-5, CD177 antigen, Solute carrier family-25, and Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. Additionally, KEGG pathway analysis indicated that glucagon signalling, metabolic, and PPAR signalling pathway were significantly associated with EVs from A. flavus infected mice eyes. The protein cargo in EVs from A. flavus endophthalmitis provides new insights into the pathogenesis of fungal endophthalmitis and validation of these proteins can serve as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers for patients with a clinical suspicion of fungal endophthalmitis., Lay Summary: EVs play an important role in cell communication. In our study proteomic profiling of EVs isolated from A. flavus infected mice provided new insights into the understanding of the pathobiology of A. flavus endophthalmitis and validation of these proteins can serve as biomarkers., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of ophthalmic findings obtained from both macroscopic examination and ocular ultrasonography when diagnosing bovine endophthalmitis. A newborn crossbreed (Japanese black and Holstein breeds) calf was suspected of visual impairment and central nervous system (CNS) symptoms, such as decreased activity and weak drinking performance. This calf was found to display macroscopic signs, such as clouded lens, convergent strabismus, and horizontal nystagmus, in both eyes. On ocular ultrasonography of both eyes, a V-shaped, thickened, hyperechoic structure was present in the anechoic vitreous humors, indicating retinal detachment. The animal died 4 days after the examination. Sepsis was evident in this case, as Escherichia coli was isolated from multiple organs. The autopsy and histological examination revealed meningitis, encephalitis, and secondary hydrocephalus in the CNS, and endophthalmitis and retinal detachment in both eyes. In this case, the ophthalmic findings did not provide definitive evidence for a diagnosis of endophthalmitis. However, this study indicated that retinal detachment might be an ultrasonographic finding that is suggestive of bovine endophthalmitis.

CASE HISTORY Thirteen cats developed ophthalmic complications following dental procedures in Australia and New Zealand between December 2014 and February 2018. All cats had at least one maxillary tooth extracted and some received a transoral maxillary nerve block. CLINICAL FINDINGS Ocular signs were identified at a median of 1.5 (min 0, max 14) days following elective dental procedures and included fibrin in the anterior chamber, aqueous flare, vision loss and miosis. Response to medical management was poor overall, with 7/13 (54%) cats undergoing subsequent enucleation and one cat was subjected to euthanasia shortly after the dental procedure due to ocular disease. The remaining five cats were managed medically. Of these, four exhibited signs of persistent inflammation at the last ophthalmic assessment, and one was subsequently subjected to euthanasia due to reasons unrelated to ocular health. Active inflammation resolved in one cat, however the lesions caused by previous inflammation persisted. PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS Assessment of six enucleated globes showed a variety of pathological changes, with marked fibrinous exudation and suppurative inflammation as predominant features. A scleral penetration site was identified in three globes. Four globes had lens capsule rupture and phacoclastic uveitis. DIAGNOSIS Endophthalmitis following iatrogenic globe penetration during routine dental procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This case series demonstrates that globe penetration during dental procedures carries a poor prognosis for the eye. Clinicians should be aware of the risks of ocular trauma during dental procedures in cats and great care should be taken to avoid ocular penetration, particularly during tooth extractions. Transoral maxillary nerve blocks should be avoided or used with extreme caution in cats.

Francolins ophthalmia is often caused by resistant conditional pathogenic bacteria. Conditional pathogenic Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a potential reservoir of macrolides antibiotics resistance gene. Baicalin has been reported as a potential agent to synergistically inhibit the replication of Staphylococcus. The objective of this study was to isolate the pathogen of the francolins ophthalmia, identify the antibiotic resistance profile of isolated S. saprophyticus, and investigate the effect of baicalin combined with azithromycin (Azm) against azithromycin resistant S. saprophyticus (ARSS). The ARSS was isolated and identified from francolins suffered from ophthalmia by phenotypic and molecular biology methods. The antibiotic resistance profile was identified by Kirby-Bauer method. Then the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Azm in absence and presence of a sub-inhibitory concentration baicalin/verapamil was determined to assess the effect that baicalin combined with Azm against ARSS. ARSS was isolated and identified from francolins experienced ophthalmia. The isolated ARSS was resistant to 11 among the 13 antibiotics that were tested. The synergistic effect of baicalin and Azm was noticed with a reduction rate varied from 2 to 128-fold. It appears from this study that S. saprophyticus can cause francolins ophthalmia and baicalin may be used as a natural agent resistance inhibitor for ARSS.

OBJECTIVE To characterize and determine the incidence of acute-onset (ie, developing ≤ 6 weeks after surgery) postoperative infectious and sterile endophthalmitis in dogs following elective cataract surgery. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 2,630 eyes of 1,447 dogs that underwent elective unilateral or bilateral cataract surgery by phacoemulsification at Cornell University from 1995 through 2015. PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed to collect and summarize data regarding dog signalment, clinical findings, diagnostic test results, surgery characteristics, eye or eyes affected, concurrent major systemic diseases, treatments, and clinical outcome. RESULTS Infectious endophthalmitis developed in 4 eyes of 4 dogs during the follow-up period, representing 0.15% of eyes and 0.28% of dogs that underwent surgery. Unilateral sterile endophthalmitis developed in 3 (0.11%) eyes of 3 (0.21%) dogs. All cases of infectious endophthalmitis were unilateral and in pseudophakic eyes and followed bilateral cataract surgeries. Clinical signs consistent with infectious endophthalmitis developed a median of 18 days after surgery and included marked and progressive hypopyon; Staphylococcus or Streptococcus spp were recovered from aqueous and vitreous humor samples. All eyes with infectious endophthalmitis responded poorly to medical treatment and were enucleated. In 2 eyes with infectious endophthalmitis, corneal incision nonunion with epithelial downgrowth was identified histologically and postulated as the route of bacterial entry into the globe. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Bacterial endophthalmitis following elective phacoemulsification was uncommon in the dogs of this study. Introduction of bacteria into the eye may occur during surgery or in the postoperative period from corneal incisions that fail to heal normally.

Bacterial contamination of the anterior chamber during cataract surgery is one of the main responsible for endophthalmitis postoperative. Phacoemulsification is a less invasive technique for cataract treatment, although it does not exclude the possibility of contamination. In this study, bacterial contaminants of aqueous humor collected pre- and post-phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation (IOL) of twenty dogs were identified. As the conjunctival microbiota constitute a significant source of anterior chamber contamination, bacterial isolates from aqueous humor were genetically compared with those present in the conjunctival surface of the patients. Three dogs presented bacterial growth in both aqueous humor and conjunctival surface samples. Bacterial isolates from these samples were grouped according to their genetic profiles by repetitive-element PCR (rep-PCR) and their representatives were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Isolates from conjunctival surface were identified as Enterobacter spp., Staphylococcus spp. and S. aureus; and from aqueous humor samples as Enterobacter spp., Pantoea spp., Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp., respectively in decreasing order of prevalence. According to the rep-PCR analysis, 16.6% of Enterobacter spp. isolates from conjunctival surface were genetically similar to those from aqueous humor. The rest of isolates encountered in aqueous humor were genetically distinct from those of conjunctival surface. The significant genetic diversity of bacterial isolates found in the aqueous humor samples after surgery denoted the possibility of anterior chamber contamination during phacoemulsification by bacteria not only from conjunctival surface but also from different sources related to surgical environment., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Use of this article is limited to a single copy for personal study. Anyone interested in obtaining reprints should contact the CVMA office (hbroughton@cvma-acmv.org) for additional copies or permission to use this material elsewhere.

A three-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented for loss of vision associated with hyperthermia, lethargy and anorexia. Ophthalmic examination revealed a bilateral panuveitis. Cytological examination of aqueous and vitreous humours was performed and revealed a suppurative inflammation associated with numerous cocci. Enterococcus faecalis was identified by bacterial culture from aqueous and vitreous humour. No primary infection site was identified. Active uveitis resolved after systemic antibiotic therapy, but the vision loss was permanent. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis secondary to E. faecalis infection in a cat., (© 2013 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

An 8-year-old, brachycephalic, mixed breed cat underwent full mouth tooth extractions for the treatment of tooth root abscessation. Subsequently, the cat developed anterior uveitis refractory to topical therapy that eventually necessitated enucleation. Actinomyces species were isolated from both the tooth root abscesses and the anterior chamber after enucleation. Histopathology of the enucleated eye revealed panophthalmitis with abundant intralesional bacteria morphologically consistent with Actinomyces. Between the time of tooth root extraction and enucleation (20 weeks), the cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and treated with oral steroids for inflammatory bowel syndrome. We believe this report represents a rare case of endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to dental disease, possibly precipitated by concurrent immunosuppression., (© 2013 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.)

Objective: To summarize the clinical and pathologic findings in a group of dogs and cats with progressive clinical ocular disease, which were diagnosed with suppurative endophthalmitis and lens capsule rupture., Animals Studied: Twenty cats and forty-six dogs that underwent unilateral enucleation or evisceration for intractable uveitis and/or glaucoma., Procedure: Biopsy submission requests and microscopic case material were evaluated for clinical and histological features, including history of ocular trauma, duration of ocular disease, pattern of inflammation, and the presence of intralenticular microorganisms., Results: The median duration for cats and dogs was 6 and 5 weeks, respectively. A history of trauma was reported for four (20%) cats and 18 (39%) dogs. All confirmed cases of trauma-three in cats and 14 in dogs-were caused by a cat scratch. Microscopically, all cases had suppurative endophthalmitis centered on the lens, lens capsule rupture, cataract, and lenticular abscess. Infectious organisms were identified by Gram stain within the lens of 14 (70%) cats and 30 (65%) dogs. Gram-positive cocci were seen most commonly. Male cats were overrepresented as compared to females. There were no apparent gender, age or breed predilections in dogs., Conclusions: A unique pattern of slowly progressive or delayed-onset endophthalmitis with lens capsule rupture, lenticular abscess, and frequently intralenticular microorganisms is associated with traumatic penetration of the globe and lens capsule. The term Septic Implantation Syndrome (SIS) is favored in lieu of 'phacoclastic uveitis' to avoid confusion with phacolytic uveitis and to clearly implicate the role of intralenticular microorganisms in the pathogenesis., (© 2012 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.)

Introduction: We report a rare case of acute postoperative Staphylococcus schleiferi endophthalmitis following an uneventful cataract extraction.
, Methods: An 83-year-old woman underwent uneventful phacoemulsification without receiving the usual intracameral cefuroxime solution due to cephalosporin intolerance. Two days postoperatively, she presented with acute ocular pain and blurred vision in the operated eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed signs of acute keratitis and endophthalmitis. Corneal scrapes and vitreous taps were sent for cultivation and analysis. The patient received intravitreal antibiotics at the same time.
, Results: Cultivation grew S schleiferi, a pathogen commonly found in dogs. Following microbiological report, the patient received a repeated intravitreal injection of 1 mg/0.1 mL vancomycin combined with fortified topical vancomycin drops. One week later, the inflammation subsided completely while the corneal ulcer healed and visual acuity improved dramatically. Further examination revealed the existence of the same pathogen in a specimen obtained from the dog owned by the patient's family.
, Conclusions: This description of S schleiferi endophthalmitis highlights the need to provide alternative intracameral antibiotic solution in the operating room and avoid direct contact with dogs during the first postoperative period after intraocular surgery.

Objective: To describe historical, clinical and diagnostic features of dogs with Brucella canis endophthalmitis and the response to medical therapy., Animals Studied: Three dogs with naturally acquired B. canis endophthalmitis., Procedure: Dogs were treated symptomatically with topical ophthalmic anti-inflammatories and a novel antimicrobial protocol that included doxycycline, enrofloxacin, rifampin and streptomycin., Results: All dogs presented with chronic or recurrent uveitis in the absence of overt systemic disease. Clinical ophthalmologic abnormalities were unilateral in each dog and included mild-to-moderate anterior uveitis, iris hyperpigmentation, marked vitreal infiltrates, and multifocal chorioretinitis. Dogs were diagnosed with canine brucellosis serologically and by blood culture (n = 2 dogs) or polymerase chain reaction of aqueous humor and blood (n = 1 dog). Active ocular inflammation resolved in all dogs during treatment, with preservation of vision in 2 dogs. Following treatment, B. canis could not be cultured from blood samples and serological values declined with seronegativity achieved in all dogs after a median of 96 weeks (range: 36-112 weeks) of therapy., Conclusions: Brucella canis infection should be included in the differential diagnosis for dogs with intraocular inflammation, regardless of previous history or neuter status. This is the first report of apparently successful medical therapy of canine brucellosis with ocular involvement.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine whether the ability to adversely affect corneal epithelial cell health is a factor common to Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis strains and to assess the prevalence of each pathogenic phenotype and genotype in a canine model of naturally-acquired P. aeruginosa ocular infection., Methods: P. aeruginosa ocular isolates were collected by sampling 100 dogs without disease (six isolates collected) and by sampling dogs with conjunctivitis (two isolates), endophthalmitis (one isolate), active keratitis (12 isolates), and resolved P. aeruginosa keratitis (four isolates). Phenotype was determined in vitro by quantifying corneal epithelial cell invasion by gentamicin survival assays, and cytotoxic activity by Trypan blue exclusion assays. Genotyping was performed for genes encoding the type III secreted effectors., Results: The ratio of invasive to cytotoxic strains with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was 0.83 (CI, 0.42-0.99) for conjunctival microflora isolates, 0.80 (CI, 0.54-0.94) for ocular infection isolates, and 1.0 (CI, 0.45-1.0) for strains isolated post-resolution of keratitis. Among ocular infection isolates, invasive and cytotoxic strains were significantly (P

A 7-year-old captive female prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) died following chronic feather and weight loss. At necropsy, the right eye had a 2 x 2 x 1 mm corneal plaque of inspissated yellow-tan material and edema of the lower eyelid. Microscopically, both eyes exhibited diffuse, severe pyogranulomatous endophthalmitis with retinal necrosis and detachment. Numerous intralesional branching, gram-positive, beaded, filamentous bacteria formed a thick mat attached to the retinal pigmented epithelium and extending into the pecten. Bacteria were strongly acid-fast positive by Fite's stain but only occasionally acid-fast positive by Ziehl-Neelsen staining, a characteristic consistent with a Nocardia spp. Infected regions demonstrated positive in situ hybridization reactivity with a probe complementary to the 16S rRNA gene of Nocardia spp. There was no evidence of primary bacterial infection in the other organs examined.

Objective: To compare penetration of IV administered marbofloxacin in intraocular fluids of healthy and inflamed eyes in rabbits with endotoxin-induced endophthalmitis., Animals: 35 pigmented rabbits., Procedures: Endophthalmitis was induced in the right eye via intravitreal administration of Escherichia coli endotoxin. The left eye was a control eye. After 24 hours, a single dose of marbofloxacin (4 mg/kg, IV) was administered. Groups of rabbits (n = 5/group) were euthanized 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, and 18 hours later, and blood and ocular fluids were collected. Marbofloxacin concentrations were determined via reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and pharmacokinetic analysis of the data was performed with a mono-compartmental model., Results: Mean area under the aqueous concentration-time curve was significantly lower in control eyes (1.64 +/- 0.07 microg*h/mL) than in inflamed eyes (3.31 +/- 0.11 microg*h/mL). Similarly, drug penetration into aqueous humor was 33% and 65% for control eyes and inflamed eyes, respectively. Mean area under the vitreous humor concentration-time curve for control eyes(1.75 +/- 0.05 microg*h/mL) was significantly less than for inflamed eyes (2.39 +/- 0.16 microg*h/mL). In the vitreous humor, corresponding penetrations were 34% and 47%, respectively., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Penetration of marbofloxacin into the aqueous and vitreous humor after IV administration was significantly enhanced by intraocular inflammation, suggesting a role for this antimicrobial in the prophylaxis or treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis caused by susceptible pathogens.

Objective: To determine if preoperative topical administration of ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin results in aqueous humor drug concentrations that exceed the MIC(90) of common ocular contaminants in dogs undergoing cataract surgery., Procedures: Twelve dogs were treated with topical 0.3% ciprofloxacin and 13 dogs with topical 0.3% ofloxacin once the night before surgery, and then with 1 drop of ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin every 15 min for 2 h immediately before surgery. Aqueous humor samples were taken from each eye immediately before the incision was made and frozen at -70 degrees C. First eye samples (S1) were taken closer to the time of topical treatments than second eye samples (S2). Samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Clinical Pharmacology laboratory., Results: In ciprofloxacin patients, S1 concentrations were 0.03-0.69 (0.17 median) microg/mL, and S2 concentrations were 0.09-0.95 (0.36 median) microg/mL. Aqueous humor concentrations did not exceed the MIC90 of Streptococcus sp. Few eyes (1/12 OU) exceeded the MIC90 for Staphylococcus sp. or Corynebacterium sp.; moderate numbers (5/12 S1; 8/12 S2) exceeded the MIC90 for E. coli. In ofloxacin patients, S1 concentrations were 0.48-2.81 (1.05 median) microg/mL, and S2 concentrations were 0.45-3.63 (1.30 median) microg/mL. Although few eyes (

Carcasses of 13 red-tailed hawks (RTHAs) and 11 Cooper's hawks (COHAs) were tested for West Nile virus (WNV) using WNV-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on fresh brain tissue and WNV-specific immunohistochemistry (IHC) on various organs. Ten COHAs (91%) and 11 RTHAs (85%) were positive for WNV RNA by RT-PCR. All 11 COHAs (100%) and 10 RTHAs (77%) were positive for WNV antigen by IHC. A triad of inflammatory lesions, including chronic lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic encephalitis, endophthalmitis, and myocarditis, was common in both species. In COHAs, the heart (54%), cerebrum (50%), and eye (45%) were the organs that most commonly contained WNV antigen. The amount of WNV antigen was usually small. In RTHAs, the kidney (38%), cerebrum (38%), cerebellum (38%), and eye (36%) were the organs most commonly containing WNV antigen. Unlike COHAs, larger amounts of WNV antigen were present in the cerebrum of RTHAs. WNV antigen was detected in similar cell populations in both species, including neurons of brain, spinal cord, and retina, pigmented epithelial cells of the retina, epithelial cells of renal medullary tubules, cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of arteries, dendritic cells of splenic lymph follicles, exocrine pancreatic cells, adrenal cells, and keratinocytes of the skin. The study presents strong evidence that WNV can cause a chronic fatal disease in RTHAs and COHAs. The lesion distribution of WNV infection in both species is variable, but inflammatory lesions are common, and a triad of lesions including encephalitis, myocarditis, and endophthalmitis is indicative of WNV infection in both species.

A case of mycotic endophthalmitis in the dog caused by Candida albicans is presented. The 3-year-old dog had a history of bloody diarrhea 3 months previously. The dog presented with acute signs of unilateral panuveitis. Aqueocentesis, vitreocentesis, and routine blood tests were performed but did not contribute to the diagnosis. The posterior segment could not be visualized because of flare and fibrin. On day 7 ultrasonography showed retinal separation which progressed to vitreous compartmentalization and abscessation by day 14. Three weeks after onset, glaucoma developed and enucleation was performed. Histology revealed the yeast Candida to be the causative agent. Post-enucleation serum Candida antibody titer was 1 : 640 (human threshold 1 : 120), as determined by agglutination test. A relapse of enteric signs 3 months later led to the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic enteritis. An hematogenous route of infection is suspected.

Objective: To compare prevalence of organisms and histologic changes in eyes from dogs with blastomycosis that were either untreated or undergoing treatment with itraconazole., Design: Retrospective study., Animals: 36 dogs with endophthalmitis associated with blastomycosis., Procedure: Signalment, results of ophthalmic examination, and duration of treatment with itraconazole were extracted from medical records. Histologic sections from eyes were examined for prevalence and viability (ie, budding) of fungal organisms. A scoring system was devised to assess the degree of inflammation., Results: Clinically, all eyes were blind and had signs of severe endophthalmitis. Histologically, the type and degree of inflammation and prevalence of Blastomyces dermatitidis were not significantly different between dogs treated with itraconazole and untreated dogs or among groups of dogs treated for different time periods (4 to 14, 15 to 28, or 29 to 72 days). Replication of the organisms in vascular tissues as well as avascular spaces in the eyes was similar in treated and untreated dogs. Lens rupture was seen in 12 of 29 (41%) eyes., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Persistence of inflammation in eyes of dogs with naturally occurring blastomycosis is likely attributable to the continued presence of B. dermatitidis, regardless of the duration of treatment with itraconazole. Lens capsule rupture, a common and previously unreported histologic finding, may contribute to cataract formation and continued inflammation.

Bacterial infections are frequently associated with diseases of the eyelids, cornea, and conjunctiva. Animals sustaining KCS commonly have bacterial infections of the external eye owing to a lack of antimicrobial properties present in the normal tearfilm. Infection can occur in the nasolacrimal duct or lacrimal sac, which is referred to as dacryocystitis. Severe corneal ulcers are frequently infected with bacteria, especially Pseudomonas sp. Three new topical ophthalmic antibiotics have recently become commercially available: ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin.

Tolfenamic acid (TA) was tested in two studies to investigate its value in controlling ocular inflammation in the dog. First, TA was assayed within primary and secondary aqueous humour (AH) and in plasma 0, 4 and 24 hours after a 4 mg/kg subcutaneous injection. Secondly, an experimental ocular surgery model was set up in 10 dogs-five receiving TA two hours before surgery and five left untreated. TA was shown to diffuse into AH, reaching lower levels than in plasma: 1:126 ratio in primary AH and 1:43 in secondary AH. In the model, TA-treated dogs versus untreated dogs showed a significant reduction of miosis (P < 0.05) and a clear trend to a reduced ocular discharge and corneal oedema (P = 0.06). Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels increased significantly less in AH after TA treatment (P < 0.05). These results show that TA, even if the whole concentration measured in AH is lower than in plasma, is able to limit the synthesis of the inflammatory mediator PGE2 in AH and to control ocular inflammatory symptoms induced by corneal surgery.

The eyes of clinically healthy Simmentaler cattle and those affected by ophthalmia were sampled once a month over a continuous period of 12 months for bacterial, mycoplasmal and ureaplasmal infections. In total 478 eyes, representing from a clinical viewpoint 414 healthy and 64 affected eyes, were swabbed. Bacteria were isolated from 201 (48.6%) healthy eyes and 56 (87.5%) affected eyes. No bacteria were isolated from the remaining eyes. Eleven genera of bacteria were isolated from healthy eyes and 8 genera from affected eyes. The majority of isolates were classified in the genera Moraxella, Neisseria and Staphylococcus. Mycoplasmas were isolated from 247 (50.7%) healthy eyes and 27 (42.2%) affected eyes. No mycoplasmas were isolated from the remaining eyes. Ureaplasmas were not isolated from any animal. Eye-frequenting moths were collected on 3 occasions during the investigation and bacterial and mycoplasmal isolation techniques were performed on a total of 21 moths. Twelve different genera of bacteria, mostly Nocardia, Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, Moraxella, and mycoplasmas were isolated from various eye-frequenting moths. Scanning electron microscopical studies of the proboscis of the moths showed it to contain various sensillae and short triangular denticles that could possibly cause damage to the mucous membranes of the eyes and predispose to ophthalmia in cattle.

Prevalence of intraoperative contamination of the eyelids, conjunctival sac, and aqueous humor of 50 canine eyes that underwent elective cataract surgery was determined, and the short-term outcomes for contaminated and noncontaminated eyes were compared by scoring media clarity, pupil size and shape, and behavioral evidence of vision during the initial 30-day postoperative period. Results of bacteriologic culture of anterior chamber samples were positive for 12 of the 50 (24%) eyes, but anterior chamber contamination was unrelated to results of bacteriologic culture of eyelids or conjunctival sac swab samples. Eyes undergoing phacoemulsification were less likely to be contaminated than were eyes undergoing intra- or extracapsular extraction. Eyes undergoing intra- or extracapsular extraction and eyes with anterior chamber contamination had a greater likelihood of developing glaucoma postoperatively. We did not detect an association between intraocular contamination and the surgeon performing the operation, the need for postoperative administration of tissue plasminogen activator, or the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus. Also, we did not detect any differences in outcome between eyes with and without intraocular contamination. Despite intraoperative bacterial contamination of the anterior chamber, bacterial endophthalmitis did not develop in any of the eyes.

Three neonatal calves ranging in age from 4 to 14 days were examined pathologically and bacteriologically. The calves showed depression, anorexia, pyrexia, and difficulty or inability to stand followed by cloudiness of the ocular aqueous humor or cornea. Autopsy revealed congestion, petechiae, and cloudy areas in the meninges. Histologically, the central nervous system (CNS) lesions were prominent and limited to the meninges where fibrinous exudate and infiltrations of neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes were present. There were mild or slight degrees of choroid plexitis and ependymitis. Endophthalmitis was seen as a concurrent lesion in all cases. Fibrinous or fibrinopurulent changes were found in the peritoneum and epicardium as well as in several other organs. Numerous Gram-positive cocci were detected in affected areas of the whole body. Bacteriologically, Streptococcus bovis was isolated from all examined materials consisting of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, ocular aqueous humor, and several other organs. These results suggest that the lesions were associated with infection of the organism and that the present cases were in the process of septicemia.

In this paper ophthalmological and clinical results as well as the literature on lens-induced uveitis (LIU), a relatively unknown pathological syndrome in domestic animals, are presented. Out of all ocular material sent to the Institute of Pathology, GSF, from 1970 until 1990 (n = 864), 40 individual cases of LIU (14 cases in dogs, 13 in cats, 10 in rabbits, 1 in a horse and 2 in birds) were diagnosed. The histology of the eyes of the cases is characterized by a lesion of the lens capsule and a consequent reactive phacogenic inflammation of the anterior segment of the eye in the region of the anterior uvea. A comparison of the history and ophthalmological diagnosis indicates that 36 lens-induced uveitis cases occurred following a (spontaneous) traumatic injury to the eye, whereby the anterior lens capsule was perforated with the result of the lens material being exuded into the anterior uvea (iris-ciliary body region). The strongly vascularized anterior uvea is used as a carrier and a connecting link to the immune system. None of the histologically examined cases of LIU were diagnosed as such clinically. This can be explained by the fact that the uveitis is difficult to recognize on account of overlying secondary alterations in the eye. Nevertheless the morphological substrate of LIU is considered to be pathognomonic. The inflammatory and cellular reactions leading to a release of the lens material observed in domestic and laboratory animals exhibit only slight parallels to those observed in man. The case history of animals usually reveals a traumatic injury and an endophthalmitis (with or without secondary glaucoma) which cannot be controlled therapeutically. The therapy for promptly diagnosed cases should be a lens extraction to save the affected eye and its sight. In advanced cases the enucleation of the bulbus is the therapy of choice.

Aqueous outflow from cannulated canine eyes was determined, using a constant-pressure perfusion technique. The effect of topically applied flurbiprofen, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, on outflow in eyes with or without neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser-induced inflammation was measured. Flurbiprofen caused decrease in aqueous outflow that was more marked in the inflamed eyes.

Dogs were treated with the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors flunixin meglumine IV or flurbiprofen topically. Acute inflammation was induced in the eyes by disruption of the anterior lens capsule, using a neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser. Pupil diameter and intraocular pressure were measured before and after inducing ocular inflammation. Both drugs maintained mydriasis and increased intraocular pressure in the inflamed eyes, compared with untreated controls.

Over 130 cases of equine periodic ophthalmia (p.o.), which were treated as in-patients at the Equine Clinic of the Free University of Berlin in the last 35 years, were examined statistically in relation to the age and gender of the animals involved as well as to the development of the illness and the season in which it arose. As regards aetiology, the extraction of 71 affected Trotters was investigated. Antibodies to toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis and intestinal parasites were found only in some of the patients. Younger animals, aged between one and four years, and male animals (63.6%) were predominantly affected. The results of the examinations of faeces showed no correlation between cases of p.o. and a vermination of the horses. The examinations for antibodies to toxoplasmosis gave no indication of a participation of the toxoplasmas in the aetiology of recurrent uveitis. In contrast, the results of the examinations for antibodies to leptospirosis, of which 58.8% were positive, showed a seven to ten times higher infection than in healthy horses in Berlin. Breed analysis showed that in certain breeds of Trotters and warm-blooded horses, p.o. illnesses were frequent, supporting the hypothesis that the occurrence of p.o. is due to a hereditary, allergic reaction, triggered by various factors, in particular an infection without clinical signs.

Blepharoconjunctivitis and hypopyon were observed in eyes of turkeys infected during 2 epornitics of fowl cholera. Blepharoconjunctivitis, hypopyon, anterior synechiae, and panophthalmitis were observed sporadically in turkeys experimentally exposed to Pasteurella multocida via drinking water. P. multocida was isolated from these lesions.

Hooded Lister rats were found to exhibit symptoms of Mycoplasma pulmonis infection. During the course of this chronic respiratory disease they developed ophthalmia and conjunctivitis which proved to be an opportunist infection with Pasteurella multocida. The severity of disease varied in individual rats, newborn rats entirely escaping infection. All cases responded to treatment with appropriate topical antibiotic and no sequelae were observed.

Eyes from 292 old (15-20 years) horses originating in the eastern, southeastern and midwestern United States were examined for the presence of Onchocerca cervicalis microfilariae (mf) and concurrently for anterior and posterior segment ocular pathological changes. One-hundred-fifty-three animals (52.4%) were positive for dermal mf (range 0.03-5,364/mg). Of these, 60 animals had anterior segment changes. An additional 58 animals with pathological changes had no dermal mf. Mf were recovered from the ocular tissues of 18% of animals (range 0.07-29/mg). All animals with ocular mf were positive for dermal mf. Lesions most frequently encountered were punctate scleral opacities (in 14.0% of horses--7.2% with mf), temporal scleral viteligo (in 11.6%--6.8% with mf) and uveitis (11.0% of horses--6.2% with mf). Few significant posterior segment changes were seen. These data suggest that no ocular pathological changes represent reliable indicators for the presence of O. cervicalis infection.

The rare occurrence of lens-induced uveitis in a cat is described and compared with the similar entity in humans. The characteristic histopathological features are presented and compared in the two species.

A sporadic fatal disease is described in 7 Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) from 5 deer farms in Victoria. Bilateral ophthalmia and wasting were the most significant signs in a clinical course varying from 4 to 34 days. Bilateral hypopyon, peripheral corneal opacities and interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration of the renal cortex with pronounced mural thickening and dilatation of vessels at the cortico-medullary junction were the only consistent lesions. Haemorrhagic ileitis, colitis and typhlitis were the major lesions in two deer that died 4 and 6 days after onset of clinical disease. Ecchymotic haemorrhages and sub-serosal haematomas on the intestines and mesentery were the main finding in cases with a longer clinical course. Other gross lesions varied between cases. The most significant histological lesion was fibrinoid necrotising vasculitis with adventitial lymphoid cell infiltration characteristic of bovine malignant catarrhal fever. Mucosal erosions seen in protracted cases of this disease were associated with lymphoid cell infiltration into foci of degenerating epithelial cells. In many lymph nodes there was severe follicular necroses. In chronic cases extensive proliferation of lymphoblastoid cells was seen in the parafollicular cortex and medullary sinuses of nodes which also showed discrete follicular necrosis.

This study examines the morphology of sporadic congenital microphthalmia in 1-day-old chicks, with particular emphasis on the neural retina. On the basis of the size of the eyeball it is possible to classify microphthalmia into two groups, severe and mild. In severe microphthalmia (less than 5 mm in equatorial diameter), the eyeball is severely malformed, but in most cases it shows evidence of an organized neural retina. Although ganglion cells and an optic nerve head are present in a small proportion of these retinae, we could not trace an optic nerve projection to the brain. These results indicate that some ganglion cells are able to be sustained after the period of naturally occurring cell death, suggesting either that those ganglion cells have established some contact with the central nervous system or that the presence of their axons in a rudimentary optic nerve is adequate for survival. In mild microphthalmia (greater than 5 mm in equatorial diameter), the most consistent abnormality is a defect in the pecten, which together with other abnormalities such as orbital cysts and colobomas indicates that the major abnormality occurs in the region of the choroid fissure. Associated with these defects are abnormalities within the ganglion cell layer. In some cases the number of ganglion cells was reduced, and in others the numbers of both ganglion and displaced amacrine cells were reduced. Unexpectedly, there were localized regions completely devoid of cells in the ganglion cell layer. The timing of the congenital defect may provide some clue as to the presence of a critical period in which displaced amacrine cells are formed or are sensitive to events related to ganglion cell loss.