The Evaluation of Normal Ocular Parameters in Two Breeds of Hedgehogs

Overview

Journal Vet Med Sci

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2023 Feb 15

PMID 36791281

Authors

Ghazal Aftab

Farnoosh Arfaee

Ahmad Asghari

Taghi Zahraei Salehi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate conjunctival microflora and measure normal tear production and intraocular pressure (IOP) in two breeds of hedgehogs (long-eared hedgehogs and Brandt's hedgehogs).

Methods: Forty-eight hedgehogs from two different breeds were chosen for the study. Tear production was measured using the Schirmer tear test (STT) and phenol red thread test (PRTT) in both eyes. IOP was measured using a rebound tonometer. To perform microbiological sampling one drop of tetracaine was instilled in the eyes. Two sterile microswabs were used to collect samples for the microbial and fungal culture. All the microswab samples were transferred in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to the laboratory for culture. Two MacConkey and two blood agar media plates were employed for each eye. Oneplate of sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) was used for the fungal culture for each eye. Standard biochemical tests were performed to identify the isolated organisms.

Results: The mean STT and PRTT values were 1.6 ± 0.1 mm/min and 2.4 ± 0.3 mm/15 s in long-eared hedgehogs and 2.2 ± 0.1 mm/min and 2.5 ± 0.3 mm/15 s in Brandt's hedgehogs, respectively. Mean (SD) Intraocular pressure of right eyes in long-eared hedgehog and Brandt hedgehog were 19.7 ± 1.4 mmHg and 19.2 ± 2.4 mmHg, respectively. In the left eyes of long-eared hedgehog and Brandt hedgehog mean (SD) IOP were 19.8 ± 1.5 mmHg and 19.5 ± 2.1 mmHg, respectively. In long-eared hedgehogs, the most common bacteria were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus spp. In Brandt's hedgehogs, 24 out of 48 eyes had Staphylococcus epidermidis, which was the most commonly isolated bacterial species.

Conclusions: This study established reference intervals for IOP, STT and PRTT in hedgehogs and recognised and compared ocular conjunctival microflora in two breeds of hedgehogs.

Citing Articles

The evaluation of normal ocular parameters in two breeds of hedgehogs.

Aftab G, Arfaee F, Asghari A, Zahraei Salehi T Vet Med Sci. 2023; 9(2):738-743.

PMID: 36791281 PMC: 10029899. DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1055.

References

Aftab G, Rajaei S, Pot S, Faghihi H . Seasonal Effects on the Corneoconjunctival Microflora in a Population of Persian Cats in Iran. Top Companion Anim Med. 2019; 34:30-32. DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2018.12.003. View

Coster M, Stiles J, Krohne S, Raskin R . Results of diagnostic ophthalmic testing in healthy guinea pigs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008; 232(12):1825-33. DOI: 10.2460/javma.232.12.1825. View

Spinelli T, Oliveira-Filho E, Silva D, Mota R, Sa F . Normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival flora in the Crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) and Coati (Nasua nasua) housed in captivity in pernambuco and paraiba (Northeast, Brazil). Vet Ophthalmol. 2010; 13 Suppl:134-6. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2009.00728.x. View

Selk Ghaffari M, Hajikhani R, Sahebjam F, Akbarein H, Golezardy H . Intraocular pressure and Schirmer tear test results in clinically normal Long-Eared Hedgehogs (Hemiechinus auritus): reference values. Vet Ophthalmol. 2011; 15(3):206-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2011.00967.x. View

Pinard C, Brightman A, Yeary T, Everson T, Cox L, Chengappa M . Normal conjunctival flora in the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and raccoon (Procyon lotor). J Wildl Dis. 2003; 38(4):851-5. DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-38.4.851. View

Williamson J, Gordon A, Wood R, Dyer A, Yahya O . Fungal flora of the conjunctival sac in health and disease. Influence of topical and systemic steroids. Br J Ophthalmol. 1968; 52(2):127-37. PMC: 506536. DOI: 10.1136/bjo.52.2.127. View

Montiani-Ferreira F, Truppel J, Tramontin M, Vilani R, Lange R . The capybara eye: clinical tests, anatomic and biometric features. Vet Ophthalmol. 2008; 11(6):386-94. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00663.x. View

Wen X, Miao L, Deng Y, Bible P, Hu X, Zou Y . The Influence of Age and Sex on Ocular Surface Microbiota in Healthy Adults. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017; 58(14):6030-6037. DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-22957. View

Cooper S, McLellan G, Rycroft A . Conjunctival flora observed in 70 healthy domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Vet Rec. 2001; 149(8):232-5. DOI: 10.1136/vr.149.8.232. View

10.

Biricik H, Oguz H, Sindak N, Gurkan T, Hayat A . Evaluation of the Schirmer and phenol red thread tests for measuring tear secretion in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2005; 156(15):485-7. DOI: 10.1136/vr.156.15.485. View

11.

Johns I, Baxter K, Booler H, Hicks C, Menzies-Gow N . Conjunctival bacterial and fungal flora in healthy horses in the UK. Vet Ophthalmol. 2011; 14(3):195-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00867.x. View

12.

Aftab G, Arfaee F, Asghari A, Zahraei Salehi T . The evaluation of normal ocular parameters in two breeds of hedgehogs. Vet Med Sci. 2023; 9(2):738-743. PMC: 10029899. DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1055. View

13.

Rajaei S, Sadjadi R, Sabzevari A, Ghaffari M . Results of phenol red thread test in clinically normal Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Vet Ophthalmol. 2013; 16(6):436-9. DOI: 10.1111/vop.12024. View

14.

Wang L, Pan Q, Zhang L, Xue Q, Cui J, Qi C . Investigation of bacterial microorganisms in the conjunctival sac of clinically normal dogs and dogs with ulcerative keratitis in Beijing, China. Vet Ophthalmol. 2008; 11(3):145-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00579.x. View

15.

Meekins J, Eshar D, Rankin A . Tear production, intraocular pressure, and conjunctival bacterial flora in a group of captive black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Vet Ophthalmol. 2014; 18 Suppl 1:132-6. DOI: 10.1111/vop.12226. View

16.

Verneuil M, Durand B, Marcon C, Guillot J . Conjunctival and cutaneous fungal flora in clinically normal dogs in southern France. J Mycol Med. 2014; 24(1):25-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2013.11.002. View

17.

Lima L, Montiani-Ferreira F, Tramontin M, Dos Santos L, Machado M, Lange R . The chinchilla eye: morphologic observations, echobiometric findings and reference values for selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests. Vet Ophthalmol. 2010; 13 Suppl:14-25. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00785.x. View

18.

Prado M, Brilhante R, Cordeiro R, Monteiro A, Sidrim J, Rocha M . Frequency of yeasts and dermatophytes from healthy and diseased dogs. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2008; 20(2):197-202. DOI: 10.1177/104063870802000208. View

19.

Gemensky-Metzler A, Wilkie D, Kowalski J, Schmall L, Willis A, Yamagata M . Changes in bacterial and fungal ocular flora of clinically normal horses following experimental application of topical antimicrobial or antimicrobial-corticosteroid ophthalmic preparations. Am J Vet Res. 2005; 66(5):800-11. DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.800. View

20.

Nardoni S, Sgorbini M, Barsotti G, Corazza M, Mancianti F . Conjunctival fungal flora in healthy donkeys. Vet Ophthalmol. 2007; 10(4):207-10. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2007.00537.x. View