This paper describes the use of amniotic membrane in the reconstructive surgical repair of generalized keratomalacia, ankyloblepharon, and after fibrous histiocytoma removal in two dogs and a cat. Case 1 was an 11-year-old female Yorkshire terrier with severe bullous keratomalacia in the left eye (OS). A frozen canine amniotic membrane graft and a third eyelid flap were applied. At day 80 postoperatively, only a mild scar and corneal vascularization were present. Case 2 was a 4-year-old female Siamese cat with symblepharon of both eyes after rhinotracheitis. Resection of the conjunctiva and frozen canine amniotic membrane transplant were performed. One month later, there was a little corneal scarring and corneal vascularization. Case 3 was a 6-year-old female terrier with a scleral and corneal mass at the 11-12 o'clock position (OS). Resection of the mass and amniotic membrane transplantation were performed. The mass was a fibrous histiocytoma localized to the sclera and cornea. This eye healed with mild conjunctivalization and no pigmentation. Amniotic membrane transplantation can be used as a method of reconstruction of the ocular surface with good repair of the cornea and minimal scarring in small animals.

Microscopic characterization of pathological tissues has one major intrinsic limitation, the small sampling areas with respect to the extension of the tissues. Mapping possible changes on vast tissues and correlating them with large ensembles of clinical cases is not a feasible procedure for studying most diseases, as for instance vision loss related diseases and, in particular, the cataract. Although intraocular lens implants are successful treatments, cataract still is a leading public-health issue that grows in importance as the population increases and life expectancy is extended worldwide. In this work we have exploited the radiation-tissue interaction properties of hard x-rays--very low absorption and scattering--to map distinct lesions on entire eye lenses. At the used synchrotron x-ray photon energy of 20 keV (wavelength lambda=0.062 nm), scattering and refraction are angular resolved effects. It allows the employed x-ray image technique to efficiently characterize two types of lesions in eye lenses under cataractogenesis: distributions of tiny scattering centers and extended areas of fiber cell compaction. The data collection procedure is relatively fast; allowing dozens of samples to be totally imaged (scattering, refraction, and mass absorption images) in a single day of synchrotron beam time. More than 60 cases of canine cataract, not correlated to specific causes, were investigated in this first application of x-rays to image entire lenses. Cortical opacity cases, or partial opacity, could be related to the presence of calcificated tissues at the cortical areas, clearly visible in the images, whose elemental contents were verified by micro x-ray fluorescence as very rich in calcium. Calcificated tissues were also observed at nuclear areas in some cases of hypermature cataract. Total opacity cases without distinguishable amount of scattering centers consist in 70% of the analyzed cases, where remarkable fissure marks owing to extended areas of fiber cell compaction are diagnosed.

Estudou-se a viabilidade do uso do peritônio homólogo, conservado em glicerina, na reparação de lesões superficiais da córnea, após ceratectomia lamelar. Para tanto foram utilizados 7 cães, machos e fêmeas, pesando 10 kg em média. Realizou-se ceratectomia lamelar de 0,4 x 0,5 mm de lado e 1/3 da espessura da córnea, bilateralmente, e nomesmo período anestésico, seguida de implante de peritônio homólogo e utilizando-se sutura interrompida aplicada em toda a extensão do enxerto. Os animais foram sacrificados e seus globos oculares enucleados, em intervalos de 24 horas, 7, 15, 30 e 60 dias de pós-operatório. Para observação dos resultados, procedeu-se às avaliações clínica e histológica. Blefarospasmo, quemose e opacidade de córnea foram sinais comuns aos períodos precoces de pósoperatório,os quais foram desaparecendo até o 32a dia, quando o enxerto se encontrava em plena fase de desopacificação e o globo ocular isento de sinais de inflamação. Epitelização total do enxerto se fez presente aossete dias, seguida por reabsorção do mesmo, com ausência de infiltrado inflamatório aos 17 dias. Houve deposição de pigmento no estroma nos períodos tardros de avaliação. Não foi observado infiltrado inflamatório nem reação clínica que pudesse ser patognomônica de eliminação do enxerto. Diante das observações factuais de cada um dos tempos, admite-se o emprego do peritônio homólogo na reparação lamelar de lesões superficiais da córnea, constituindo-se, portanto, em mais uma opção de técnica de ceratoplastia no cão.

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-Electroretinogram (ERG) is a non-invasive electrophysiologic test widely used in both human and veterinary ophthalmology to evaluate retinal function. Case report: due to recent cases of severe visual impairment in Pit Bull dogs in our clinic, we decided to evaluate the retinal function by full-field ERG in a 5-month-old male Pit Bull dog whose owner have noticed visual impairment since 40 days of age. Under general anesthesia, the dog was submitted to full-field ERG testing, according to ISCEV (International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision) standard protocol. ERG recordings were obtained in one eye after 30 minutes of dark adaptation from a fully dilated pupil, using a monopolar contact lens electrode. Non-detectable scotopic and photopic responses were found, confirming the devastating effect of the retinal degeneration. Conclusion: ERG was able to quantify the severity of retinal degeneration on retinal function. We believe that heredogram study of these animals may be helpful to better understand this new retinal condition affecting Pit Bull dogs.Key-words: electroretinography, dog, retinal degeneration, Pit Bull. RESUMO -O eletrorretinograma (ERG)consiste em exame objetivo, não invasivo, capaz de avaliar a função retiniana tanto na oftalmologia humana como na veterinária. Caso Clínico: com o recente surgimento em São Paulo, de cães da raça Pit Bull apresentando déficit visual severo, optou-se por realizar ERG de campo total em um filhote macho, 5 meses de idade, com baixa de visão desde os 40 dias de idade, com intuito de avaliar sua função retiniana. O animal, sob anestesia geral, foi submetido ao ERG, segundo o protocolo padrão da ISCEV (International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision). Em um dos olhos foi adaptado eletrodo de lente de contato monopolar, após adaptação ao escuro por 30 minutos e dilatação completa da pupila. As respostas escotópicas e fotópicas mostraram-se não detectáveis, confirmando o efeito devastador da degeneração na função retiniana. Comentários conclusivos: o Erg foi capaz de detectar a severidade da degeneração retiniana e acredita-se que o estudo do heredograma destes animais possibilitará melhor compreensão desta nova doença.Palavras-chave: eletrorretinografia, cão, degeneração retiniana, Pit Bull.

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.

Descreve-se, pela primeira vez no Brasil, um caso de criptococose canina com acometimento oftalmo e dermatopático, com diagnóstico intra-vitam, em animal da raça Pastor Alemão, fêmea, com 24 meses de vida, criado em São Paulo, em contacto com outros cinco cães assintomáticos, que havia se infectado pelo contato com dejetos de pombos (Columba livia). Evoluia há 90 dias, com quadro tegumentar e ósseo, sintomas e lesões características, sendo, ainda, detectada forma assintomática de coriorretinite, de início unilateral. O diagnóstico foi estabelecido pelos dados da anamnese, dos exames físico, dermatológico e complementares (radiográfico, cultivo micológico, histopatologia de pele) tendo-se evidenciado e isolado cepa de Criptococcus neoformans var. neoformans. Após nove meses de terapia com itraconazol (9mg/kg/SID/VO) houve involução total do quadro, sem qualquer efeito adverso à droga.

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