Tear ferning in normal dogs and dogs with keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Journal Title: Open Veterinary Journal - Year 2017, Vol 7, Issue 3
Abstract
This study evaluates tear ferning as an ancillary technique for the evaluation of the canine tear film in normal eyes and eyes affected by keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Thirty dogs with KCS and 50 control dogs with normal tear film were evaluated with a full ophthalmoscopic examination and a Schirmer tear test type 1 (STT) determined before tear samples were obtained from the medial canthus with a microhaematocrit capillary tube. 10ul of tear was placed on a microscope slide and the time to first formation of a fern of crystallised tear solute was determined. The appearance of the ferning pattern was graded and correlated with the STT value. All eyes with KCS had abnormal ferning patterns while 39 out of the 50 normal dogs (78%) had so-called ‘normal’ ferning patterns. The mean STT for dogs showing ‘normal’ ferning patterns was 20.6mm/min for the left eye and 21.3mm/min for the right eye. STT values for eyes with ‘abnormal’ ferning patterns were 10.9mm/min and 12.4mm/min, these differing from the normal eyes with STT above 15mm/min significantly. These findings suggest that tear ferning could be a valuable technique for assessment of the tear film in dogs with KCS.
Authors and Affiliations
David Williams| Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK, Heather Hewitt| Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP9439
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ovj.v7i3.11
- Views 449
- Downloads 35
Effects of topical flurbiprofen sodium, diclofenac sodium, ketorolac tromethamine and benzalkonium chloride on corneal sensitivity in normal dogs
To evaluate corneal sensitivity by using the Cochet-Bonnet® esthesiometer in normal canine eyes at different time points following instillation of three different topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (flurbipr...
Jejuno-jejunal intussusception in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)
An approximately four-year-old male castrated guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was presented for painful defecation with a 24-hour history of hyporexia and intermittent episodes of rolling behavior. Upon presentation the pa...
Changes in intraocular pressure and horizontal pupil diameter during use of topical mydriatics in the canine eye
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of topical 0.5% tropicamide, 1% atropine sulphate and 10% phenylephrine hydrochloride ophthalmic solutions on intraocular pressure (IOP) and horizontal pupil diam...
Search for the genome of bovine herpesvirus types 1, 4 and 5 in bovine semen
Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) causes respiratory and reproductive disorders in cattle. Recently, bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) and bovine herpesvirus type 4 (BoHV-4) have been identified to be associated with...
Detection of antibodies against Chlamydophila abortus in Costa Rican sheep flocks
A total of 359 sheep samples from 15 flocks were analyzed for the presence of antibodies against Chlamydophila abortus using a commercial Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Antibodies were detected in 19 (5.29%)...