Bilateral Uveitis and Hyphema in a Catalina Macaw (Ara ararauna×Ara macao) With Multicentric Lymphoma

Abstract

A 20-year-old, female Catalina macaw (Ara ararauna × Ara macao ) was presented with bilateral uveitis and hyphema. The hyphema initially improved with 0.12% prednisolone acetate ophthalmic drops (1 drop OU q4h for 7 days), but the hyphema recurred after the drops were tapered. The bird subsequently developed inappetance, weight loss, regurgitation, and lethargy and was euthanatized 24 days after initial presentation. Necropsy revealed marked splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, with significant mucosal ulcerations of the proventriculus and petechiation associated with both kidneys. Histopathologic examination revealed multicentric lymphoma, with neoplastic cells observed in ocular, splenic, hepatic, renal, proventricular, intestinal, pancreatic, and choanal tissue. Neoplastic lymphocytes effaced the iris, ciliary body, and the choroid of the eyes, and neoplastic lymphocytes were attached to the corneal endothelium and infiltrated the sclera, episclera, and conjunctivae. Immunohistochemical results indicated that the neoplastic lymphocytes were CD3(+) and CD79a(-), which is consistent with T-cell lymphoma.

Ocular Lesions and Neurologic Findings in Traumatic Birds: A Retrospective Evalution of 114 Cases

“…Inflammatory and blood cells accumulate acutely in the anterior chamber (Davidson, 1997).It is determined by pain-related blepharospasm, low intraocular pressure, iridal hyperemia, and the presence of varying degrees of a mycotic or disyscoric pupil. One of the most common ocular signs of uveitis in birds is hyphema, defined as the accumulation of blood cells in the anterior chamber (Hausmann et al, 2016). This is also one of the intraocular symptoms of severe ocular trauma.…”

“…If hyphema is not complicated, it is usually absorbed and cleared within a few days to two weeks. However, sometimes it causes adhesion to the surrounding tissues in the pupillar iris region (Hausmann et al, 2016). The adhesion of the inflammatory cells that appear as a result of inflammation in the traumatic iris to the lens anterior capsule can cause cataract formation due to focal uveal pigment deposition on the lens and secondary nutritional defect in the lens (Davidson, 1997;Hausmann et al, 2016).…”

“…Traumatic uveitis and other traumatic intraocular changes sometimes occur in the iridocorneal angle, resulting in chronic glaucoma formation (Davidson, 1997;Hausmann et al, 2016). Glaucoma is a common complication of ocular blunt trauma in humans but relatively rare in birds (Davidson, 1997).…”

“…Its appearance is noticeable with a larger sphere size than the normal eyeball due to the increased intraocular pressure (Hvenegaard et al, 2009). Since it is a very painful condition, eye enucleation is recommended in patients who do not respond to medical treatment (Davidson, 1997;Hausmann et al, 2016 ). None of our cases presented with direct glaucoma signs, but preventive anti-hypertensive topical eye drops were used in cases where clinical symptoms, such as cataract and hyphema may have caused glaucoma, and no secondary glaucoma developed in any of the patients.…”