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Ophthalmic examination findings and intraocular pressures in wild‐caught African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys spp.)

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PURPOSE To report ophthalmic examination findings and intraocular pressures (IOPs) in wild-caught African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei and gambianus) from Tanzania and Ghana. PROCEDURES After being placed under general… Click to show full abstract

PURPOSE To report ophthalmic examination findings and intraocular pressures (IOPs) in wild-caught African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei and gambianus) from Tanzania and Ghana. PROCEDURES After being placed under general anesthesia for examination, slit-lamp biomicroscopy before and after pharmacologic mydriasis and indirect ophthalmoscopy was performed. Eyes were fluorescein stained and IOPs measured by rebound tonometry using the TonoVet® . RESULTS Thirty-two sexually mature pouched rats (64 eyes) were examined, including 16 males and 16 females. The mean IOP (± standard deviation) was 7.7 (±2.9) mmHg. Fluorescein staining was negative in all eyes. One or more ocular abnormalities were detected in 21 pouched rats (35 eyes). These ocular lesions included the following: lens opacities (n = 23 eyes), persistent pupillary membranes (n = 5), chorioretinal scarring (n = 3), corneal vascularization (n = 2), palpebral margin defect with focal trichiasis (n = 2), phthisis bulbi (n = 1), and posterior synechiae (n = 1). Lens opacities included incipient anterior cortical opacities (n = 7), immature cataract (n = 6), incipient nuclear opacities (n = 5), punctate pigment on anterior lens capsule (n = 2 eyes), incipient suture tip opacities (n = 2), and hypermature cataract (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS Ocular abnormalities were common in the evaluated population of giant pouched rats; however, most of the detected lesions were mild and believed to have minimal impact on vision. Rebound tonometry with the TonoVet® was a reliable and simple technique to measure IOPs in the anesthetized pouched rats.

Keywords: giant pouched; pouched rats; ophthalmic examination; examination findings

Journal Title: Veterinary Ophthalmology
Year Published: 2018

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