Comparison of capsular opacification and refractive status after placement of three different intraocular lens implants following phacoemulsification and aspiration of cataracts in dogs

Objective  To evaluate the effect of lens design and biomaterial on formation of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) and refractive correction.
Animals studied  Sixty dogs undergoing bilateral phacoemulsification for mature or diabetic cataracts.
Procedures  One randomly selected eye received a rounded edge 41D polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) intraocular replacement lens (IOL) and the contralateral eye received either a squared edge 41D hydrophilic acrylic IOL ( n  = 35) or a squared edge 40D hydrophobic acrylic IOL ( n  = 25). At the (mean = 79 day) reexamination period, PCO was graded using direct slit-lamp observation and by masked observer evaluation of digital images of the IOLs. Streak retinoscopy and B-mode ultrasound were performed at this period.
Results  The PCO score via direct slit-lamp was significantly lower for the hydrophilic acrylic IOL when compared to the PMMA IOL. Masked observer evaluation of digital images revealed that the acrylic IOLs had lower but generally not statistically significant PCO scores than the PMMA IOLs. Streak retinoscopy showed that the PMMA IOL was significantly closer to emmetropia (+0.44 D) when compared to either the hydrophilic acrylic (+0.96 D) or the hydrophobic acrylic (+1.2 D) IOLs. B-mode ultrasonography revealed the center of the hydrophilic acrylic IOL is 0.31 mm closer to the retina and the center of the hydrophobic acrylic IOL is 0.63 mm further from the retina when compared to the center of the PMMA to retina distance.
Conclusions  Square edged foldable acrylic IOLs show a predisposition towards generating slightly less PCO than round edged PMMA IOLs in the early postoperative period, however, both acrylic IOLs had greater persistent hyperopia than the PMMA IOLs.     

Severity and persistence of footrot in Merino sheep experimentally infected with a protease thermostable strain of Dichelobacter nodosus at five sites

Objective To test the hypothesis that ovine footrot associated with a thermostable protease strain of Dichelobacter nodosus undergoes self cure or is sustained as an annually recurring disease, depending on the environment.
Design and procedure Forty Merino sheep from a single blood line were infected with a protease thermostable strain of D nodosus a t each of five sites in Western Australia. Footrot lesions and microscopic evidence of D nodosus were recorded every fortnight for 2.5 years, supplemented by laboratory culture. Rainfall, soil and air temperature, pasture quantity and composition and soil types were also recorded. Flocks that apparently self cured were relocated to a more favourable site for footrot in the final spring season.
Results The maximum prevalence of feet with clinical footrot lesions was 80.6, 1.3, 14.4, 3.8 and 88.1% at the five sites. Severe footrot occurred for three consecutive spring seasons at one site that had clay loam soil and at least 3500 kg/ha total pasture dry matter annually. However, the infection was asymptomatic for up to 10 weeks between outbreaks. D nodosus was isolated from flocks for 2.5 years at only two sites, although there was microscopic evidence of the organism at other sites in the final year. A thermolabile variant (strain U6) of D nodosus was isolated from the two sites where footrot persisted.
Conclusion Depending on time and location, ovine footrot induced by a protease thermostable strain of D nodosus either self cured or persisted as annual outbreaks interspersed with periods of asymptomatic infection.     

Clinical Communication: A Case of Hyperostosis due to Hypervitaminosis A in a Cat

Abstract— —A case of hyperostosis in a cat is reported. Evidence indicated that the condition was caused by excessive vitamin A intake, in a predominantly liver diet, over a period of 18 months. The diagnosis, made on the case history and physical findings at examination was confirmed by radiological findings and clinical chemistry. It was further substantiated by autopsy findings. To re-affirm the clinical findings, photographs of macerated hyperostotic bones are presented. The case is discussed and its features are compared with feline oesteodystrophia fibrosa (osteogenesis irnperfecta, juvenile osteoporosis). Résumé— —On rapporte un cas d'hyperostose chez le chat. Les faits montrent que la maladie est provoqute par une absorption excessive de vitamine A au cours d'un régime dans lequel prédomine le foie pendant une période de 18 mois. Le diagnostic établi d'après les commémoratifs et les observations cliniques est confirmé par les observations radiologiques et les analyses biochimiques. Il est aussi renforcé par la suite au cours de l'examen nécropsique. Pour illustrer les constatations cliniques des photographies d'os hypero-stotiques sont présentées. Le cas est discuté et les faits sont comparés avec l'ostéodystrophie fibreuse du chat (ostéogénèse imparfaite, ostéoporose juvénile). Zusammenfassung— —Es wird über einen Fall von Hyperostose bei einer Katze berichtet. Der Befund liess darauf schliessen, dass der Zustand durch übermässige Vitamin-A-Aufnahme mit einem übenviegend aus Leber bestehenden Futter während eines Zeitraums von 18 Monaten verursacht worden war. Die Diagnose auf Grund der Krankengeschichte und der körperlichen. Untersuchungsergebnisse wurde durch radiologische und klinisch-chemische Untersuchung bestätigt. Weiter wurde sie durch den Sektionsbefund verifiziert. Als Belege werden die klinischen Befunde und Photographien der mazerierten hyperostotischen Knochen wiedergegeben. Der Fall wird besprochen und seine Besonderheiten werden mit Osteodystrophia fibrosa der Katze (Osteo-genesis imperfecta, juvenile Osteoporose) verglichen.