RESUMO.-Com o aumento do número de intervenções cirúrgicas para a remoção da catarata em cães, observase a necessidade de exames específicos que devem ser realizados antes da indicação cirúrgica. A catarata é uma das principais causas de cegueira em cães. Nos estágios mais avançados, impossibilita o exame fundoscópico e inviabiliza a observação de alterações retinianas como a atrofia progressiva da retina (APR), degeneração retiniana hereditária de acometimento bilateral que, quando diagnosticada, contra-indica a cirurgia. Cataracts are one of the most frequent ocular disorders that affects dogs and leads to blindness. In the late stages, lens opacity unables fundoscopy and consequently the diagnosis of retinal degeneration such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which contraindicates surgery. Aiming the return of vision, full field electroretinogram (full field ERG) becomes indispensable before surgery. As English Cocker Spaniels are predisposed to cataracts and retinal degeneration, the objective of this study is the evaluation of the full field ERG records performed in dogs. One hundred thirty-six full field ERGs were recorded from English Cocker Spaniels (62 males and 74 females, with ages ranging from 3 to 15 years old), between September, 2004 and May, 2009. Each examined dog presented cataracts and vision loss before the exam. Diagnosis of retinal degeneration was made based on ERG parameters which were measured from peak to peak amplitude and b-wave implicit time in the 3 different responses (rod response, maximal response and cone response). Amplitude measured in rod, maximal and cone response, as well as the implicit time recorded from dogs that did not present retinal degeneration were respectively: 71.55μV/65.15ms; 149.17μV/33.03ms; and 31.06μV/27.90ms. No response was recorded in 38 dogs. Low responses were recorded from the remaining dogs: 12.88μV/65.04ms, 24.16μV/36.25ms, and 8.36μV/31.38ms. Results showed that 122 animals (89.7%) presented progressive retinal atrophy. Therefore, we conclude that full field ERG must be performed in English Cocker Spaniels presenting cataracts before its removal due to high incidence of retinal degeneration in this breed.INDEX TERMS: Dog, cataracts, retina, full field electroretinogram, progressive retinal atrophy.

A retrospective study was conducted to identify the occurrence and types of ocular disorders in 57 Amazon parrots admitted to the Ophthalmology Service, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil from 1997 to 2006. The most frequent observed disorder was cataracts, present in 24 of the 114 examined eyes (57 parrots). Uveitis, ulcerative keratitis and keratoconjunctivitis were frequently diagnosed as well. The cornea was the most affected ocular structure, with 28 reported disorders. Uveal disorders also were commonly observed. Conjunctiva and eyelid disorders were diagnosed in lower frequency. Results suggest that cataracts are common and that cornea, lens and uvea are the most affected ocular structures in Amazon parrots.

Indolent ulcers are superficial corneal ulcers secondary to several changes on the corneal surface. They are frequently observed in middle-aged Boxer dogs, cause pain of acute onset and requires appropriate treatment. Aiming to evaluate the efficacy of clinical managements on the rate of healing of indolent ulcers, a retrospective study was conducted (1997-2008). Results demonstrated that proteinase inhibitors were the most often prescribed medication, and its administration did not interfere on the healing rate, as well as observed in dogs that received 1% atropine, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Healing was delayed in dogs administered orally with vitamin C, but the healing process was faster on those dogs that went through corneal debridement/cauterization. In conclusion, to know the various types of treatments seems to be fundamental for the rapid resolution of the disease. It is suggested that debridement/cauterization, administration of proteinase inhibitor eye drops, prophylactic topical antibiotics and oral vitamin C, should be considered as an effective clinical management for indolent ulcers in Boxer dogs.

Being the commonest ocular disorder, dense cataracts disable fundoscopic examination and the diagnosis of retinal disorders, which dogs may be predisposed. The aim of this study was to compare the electroretinographic responses recorded according to the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision human protocol to evaluate retinal function of diabetic and non diabetic dogs, both presenting mature or hypermature cataracts. Full-field electroretinogram was recorded from 66 dogs, with ages varying from 6 to 15 years old allocated into two groups: (1) CG, non diabetic cataractous dogs, and (2) DG, diabetic cataractous dogs. Mean peak-to-peak amplitude (microvolts) and b-wave implicit time (milliseconds) were determined for each of the five standard full-field ERG responses (rod response, maximal response, oscillatory potentials, single-flash cone response and 30 Hz flicker). Comparing CG to DG, ERGs recorded from diabetic dogs presented lower amplitude and prolonged b-wave implicit time in all ERG responses. Prolonged b-wave implicit time was statistically significant (p< 0.05) at 30 Hz flicker (24.0 ms versus 22.4 ms). These data suggests full-field ERG is capable to record sensible alterations, such as flicker's implicit time, being useful to investigate retinal dysfunction in diabetic dogs.

763Pesq. Vet. Bras. 30(9):763-769, setembro 2010 RESUMO.-Eletrorretinograma (ERG) é o meio diagnóstico objetivo e não-invasivo para avaliar a função retiniana e detectar precocemente, em várias espécies, lesões nas suas camadas mais externas. As indicações mais comuns para ERG em cães são: avaliação pré-cirúrgica de pacientes com catarata, caracterização de distúrbios que causam cegueira, além de servir como importante modelo para o estudo da distrofia retiniana que acomete o homem. Vários são os fatores que podem alterar o ERG tais como: eletrorretinógrafo, fonte de estimulação luminosa, tipo do eletrodo, tempo de adaptação ao escuro, tamanho pupilar, opacidade de meios e protocolo de sedação ou anestesia; além da espécie, raça e idade. is an objective non invasive diagnostic method to evaluate retinal function which permits the early detection of lesions at retinal external layers, even before the appearance of clinical signs. In dogs, ERG is mostly utilized for preoperative evaluation in patients presenting cataracts; characterization of disturbances causing blindness, among the utilization of dogs as animal models in scientific research. Several factors interfere in ERG responses, such as the ERG machine, light stimulation, electrode, time spent on dark adaptation, pupil size, means opacity, sedation or anesthetization, species, breed and age. The purpose of this study was to standardize the full field ERG in sedated dogs, according to the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) protocol, using Ganzfeld and bipolar electrodes. Two hundred thirty threes ERGs were performed in 147 female and 86 male with ages from 1 to 14 years old. Among those 233 dogs, 100 presented cataracts in different stages of maturation, 72 were diabetic and presented mature or hypermature cataracts, 26 presented ERG compatible to progressive retinal degeneration, 3 presented ERG compatible to sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome; for 32 dogs no abnormal ERG was registered and they were considered as having normal retinal function. Sedation was capable to induce a good immobilization with no bulb rotation, resulting uniform retinal stimulation, using Ganzfeld. Veris system successfully registered all 5 ISCEV responses, simultaneously from both eyes, at the same time. Full field ERG became a fundamental ophthalmic exam, then, its standardization is mandatory to allow comparison between ERGs from different laboratories. The reliability and reproducibility of this protocol has shown very good responses, using ISCEV protocol, Veris system, Ganzfeld and Burian Allen electrodes in sedated dogs.INDEX TERMS: Dog, retina, full field electroretinogram.

Resumo: Atualmente, a cápsula anterior e o epitélio da lente tem sido cada vez mais estudados, com o intuito de reduzir as possíveis complicações do pós-operatório da remoção da catarata, tal como a opacidade da cápsula posterior, alteração ocasionada principalmente pela diferenciação e migração das células do epitélio lenticular para a cápsula posterior da lente. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a composição molecular da cápsula anterior da lente pela técnica histoquímica de PAS (avaliação de proteoglicanos) e picrosirius red (avaliação de colágeno IV), em cães idosos com catarata diabética e não diabética do tipo hipermadura, submetidos ao uso ou não de azul de tripano a 0,1 % durante a facoemulsificação. Vinte e sete cães foram estudados, incluindo 21 fêmeas e 6 machos, de 8 a 12 anos de idade (média = 9,6 anos), de diversas raças e divididos em 2 grupos: GC (catarata hipermadura) e GCD (catarata diabética). Os resultados das análises realizadas mostraram que ambas as amostras, tanto as provenientes das cataratas hipermaduras, quanto das diabéticas, apresentam semelhante composição molecular de proteoglicanos e colágeno IV e isto independente da utilização de azul de tripano a 0,1 %. Conclui-se, portanto, que se os resultados obtidos forem decorrentes de alterações provocadas pelo rápido metabolismo da catarata diabética e pela cronicidade da catarata hipermadura sugere-se que o comprometimento da estrutura capsular seja de intensidade equivalente e, por consequência, que isto também possa prejudicar o metabolismo das células do epitélio anterior da lente, diminuindo assim a incidência da opacidade da cápsula posterior de cães com catarata diabética e hipermadura submetidos à facoemulsificação.

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 32(1):66-71, janeiro 2012 RESUMO.-A catarata representa uma das principais causas de cegueira em cães, sendo que as alterações metabólicas provocadas pelo Diabetes mellitus (DM), constituem a segunda causa mais comum de catarata nesta espécie. A biomicroscopia ultrassônica (UBM) é um método ultrassonográϐico de alta frequência (50 MHz) que permite a obtenção de imagens do modo B de qualidade microscópica. Este estudo objetivou, por meio do uso da UBM, comparar as estruturas do segmento anterior de olhos de cães com catarata, diabética e não-diabética, às de cães normais, para veriϐicar possíveis alterações decorrentes do DM. Os parâmetros avaliados foram espessura da córnea, profundidade da câmara anterior, aumento de celularidade no interior da câmara anterior e medida do ângulo iridocorneal. The second most common cause of cataract in dogs is a result of metabolic alterations caused by Diabetes mellitus (DM). Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) is a high-frequency (50 MHz) ultrasonographic method that produces B mode images of microscopic quality. The objective of this study was, by means of UBM use, to compare the anterior segment structures of the canine eyes, both with diabetic and non-diabetic cataract, in order to detect changes caused by DM. The parameters evaluated were: cornea thickness, anterior chamber's depth, increased cellularity inside the anterior chamber, and iridocorneal angle measurement. Eighty-seven eyes of 47 dogs were examined, divided into three groups: control (GCO), non-diabetic cataract (GCAT) and diabetic cataract (GDM). The results showed that the diabetic group presented a higher cornea thickness than the other groups. The control group showed deeper anterior chambers without increased cellularity. When the iridocorneal angle measurements were analyzed, it was found that there were no statistically signiϐicant differences between the three groups. Based on these results, we can conclude that: the eyes of diabetic dogs with cataract showed a central cornea higher thickness compared to the eyes of dogs with cataract of different etiologies, and to dogs with normal eyes; there is a decrease of the anterior chamber depth and a increase of cellularity in the eyes of dogs with cataract compared to normal eyes, there is no signiϐicant difference between the iridocorneal angle measurement in the eyes of dogs with cataract, diabetic or not, and normal dogs.

It is well known that posterior capsule opacification (PCO), one of the most common late postoperative complications of cataract surgery, is mainly caused by proliferation and differentiation of remaining lens epithelial cells (LECs) on the posterior lens capsule. Many authors suggest that alterations induced by the pathophysiology of cataracts, its metabolism and the use of 0.1% trypan blue (TB) must cause some degree of cellular damage on these cells, wicht would help to prevent and/or reduce the incidence of PCO after cataract surgery in humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of cell death markers on LECs of older dogs with diabetic and hypermature cataracts, after capsulorhexis, both using 0.1% TB. Twenty samples collected from 13 dogs of different breeds, with ages varying from 8 to 12 years-old, with diabetic and hypermature cataracts, which had been subjected to phacoemulsification surgery (Phaco) using 0.1% TB for staining were studied. Animals were classified as dogs with diabetic (DC) and hypermature cataracts (HC), and expression of molecular markers for apoptosis and autophagy (caspase-3 and beclin-1) on LECs were obtained by immunofluorescence technique. The expression of caspase-3 and beclin-1 was observed in every studied sample and did not differ between groups. In conclusion, our findings suggest that apoptosis and autophagy processes occur to LECs in older dogs presenting diabetic and hypermature cataracts after Phaco utilizing 0.1% TB. Our results may be helpful to future studies of PCO in post-phacoemulsification surgery patients.