Spontaneous Ophthalmic Diseases in 586 New Zealand White Rabbits

A 3-month wild rabbit was presented for examination of ocular opacities in the left eye. A complete bilateral ocular examination including slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, and ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed. Biomicroscopy of the lens of the left eye showed a retrolental fibrovascular membrane causing leukocoria. The opacity prevented biomicroscopy of the vitreous and funduscopy OS. No other disorder was present in either eye. Ultrasound examination did not show any difference between the right and left eye. Histopathological examination showed a 50-μm thick, preretinal, retrolental, nonpigmented, fibrovascular tissue. Posterior synechiae were present, but no other lesion of the posterior segment was found in this eye. These ocular abnormalities are consistent with a persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHTVL/PHPV), similar to those described in other species.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unilateral persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous in a rabbit

Boillot

Graille²,

Williams

et al. 2015

“…It was concluded, based on the above results, that spontaneous juvenile cataracts occurred in the rabbits and the incidences suggested an autosomal recessive model of inheritance. In a separate study to investigate spontaneous eye diseases in a group of 586 NZW rabbits, it was reported that unilateral or bilateral cataracts were identified in 1.9 percent of the rabbits and most of the affected rabbits were 2–4 months old . A recent retrospective study including 1022 NZW rabbits and 246 NZW × NZR F1 rabbits aged 6–16 weeks from five different suppliers demonstrated that the overall incidence of lenticular lesions were 4.6% in NZW rabbits and 3.3% in NZW × NZR F1 rabbits, which were similar to the incidence as previously reported .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High incidence of spontaneous cataracts in aging laboratory rabbits of an inbred strain

Peng

Roshwalb

Cooper

et al. 2014

Objective To investigate the occurrence of spontaneous cataracts in a breeding colony of the inbred EIII/JC strain of New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi) and the congenic strain of EIII/JC-HLA-A2.1transgenic rabbits. Procedure A retrospective study was conducted by collecting and analyzing data from clinical records for individual rabbits filed between January 2011 and October 2013. Results Thirteen cases (8 females and 5 males) of cataract were identified in a group of 51 EIII/JC inbred rabbits with a morbidity of 25.5%. The median age of the rabbits identified with unilateral or bilateral cataracts was 43 months in contrast to the median age of 23 months of the entire group of 51 rabbits. Additionally, seven cases (5 females and 2 males) of cataracts were identified in a group of 21 EIII/JC-HLA-A2.1 transgenic rabbits. The EIII/JC- HLA.A2.1 transgenic rabbits showed similar morbidity (33.3%) and median age (41 months) for the development of cataracts as the EIII/JC rabbits. In both groups, none of the rabbits younger than 37 months developed cataracts while 13 (93%) of 14 EIII/JC rabbits aged 37 to 49 months and 7 (63.6%) of 11 EIII/JC-HLA.A2.1 transgenic rabbits aged 37 to 43 months developed cataracts. In contrast, none of 78 outbred rabbits with a median age of 29 months (10 to 67 months) developed cataracts. Conclusion Results of this study indicate that the occurrence and high incidence of spontaneous cataracts in this inbred strain (EIII/JC) of rabbits were strictly age related and consistently transmitted through inbreeding.

“…Rabbits are presented to veterinarians mainly due to parasitic, dental, or infectious diseases and also because of ophthalmic disorders. An investigative study on 586 New Zealand White rabbits living in commercial breeding facilities revealed an incidence rate of 9.6% for ophthalmic diseases 1 . The predominant ophthalmic disease observed was blepharitis, followed by cataract and conjunctivitis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So far, several studies have been published, concerning the microbiology and specific anatomy of the nasolacrimal duct of rabbits with dacryocystitis 1,2,4–13 . However, to the best of our knowledge, information on the clinical outcome of treated patients affected by this disease is scarce.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of dacryocystitis in rabbits: a retrospective study of 28 cases (2003–2007)

Florin

Rusanen

Haessig

et al. 2009

Clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of dacryocystitis in rabbits: a retrospective study of 28 cases (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007) Florin, M; Rusanen, E; Haessig, M; Richter, M; Spiess, B M Florin, M; Rusanen, E; Haessig, M; Richter, M; Spiess, B M (2009). Clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of dacryocystitis in rabbits: a retrospective study of 28 cases (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007) Results: The mean age of the 28 rabbits presenting with ocular discharge from the nasolacrimal duct was 4.4 years. In 25 rabbits (89%), dacryocystitis was a unilateral finding. No underlying cause could be determined in 10 animals (35%). Dental malocclusion was observed in 14 rabbits (50%) and rhinitis in two animals (7%), with one animal showing both symptoms (4%). One rabbit (4%) presented with panophthalmitis. Most animals (96%) received topical antibiotic treatment. If necessary, additional topical (acetylcysteine, vitamin A ointment, nonsteroidals) or systemic treatment (antibiotics, nonsteroidals, paramunity inducer, and glucocorticoids) was provided. The mean duration of therapy was 5.8 weeks. The nasolacrimal duct was flushed in 27 of 31 affected eyes (87%). Dentistry was performed in 80% of the animals suffering from malocclusion. Regarding the clinical outcome, 12 animals (43%) showed complete recovery, eight rabbits (28%) were euthanized, three (11%) died due to unrelated causes, and three (11%) were lost to follow-up. Two rabbits (7%) continue to display signs of dacryocystitis and are being treated symptomatically by the owners.Conclusions: This study reports the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of dacryocystitis in rabbits and outlines the importance of examination of the oral cavity, diagnostic imaging, and bacteriologic sampling. Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study included 28 rabbits diagnosed with dacryocystitis.Available records of clinical and ophthalmological examinations, bacteriological samplings, diagnostic imaging and treatment were reviewed. A telephone survey of the owners was conducted to evaluate recovery and recurrences.Results The mean age of the 28 rabbits presenting with ocular discharge from the nasolacrimal duct was 4.4 years. In 25 rabbits (89%), dacryocystitis was a unilateral finding. No underlying cause could be determined in 10 animals (35%). Dental malocclusion was observed in 14 rabbits (50%) and rhinitis in 2 animals (7%), with one animal showing both symptoms (4%). One rabbit (4%) presented with panophthalmitis.Most animals (96%) received topical antibiotic treatment. If necessary, additional topical (acetylcysteine, vitamin A ointment, non-steroidals) or systemic treatment (antibiotics, non-steroidals, paramunity inducer and glucocorticoids) was provided. The mean duration of therapy was 5.8 weeks.The nasolacrimal duct was flushed in 27 of 31 affected eyes (87%). Dentistry was performed in 80% of the animals suffering from malocclusion.Regarding the clinical outcome, twelve animals (43%) showed complete recovery, eight rabbits (28%)were euthani...