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Clinical ophthalmological diagnostic description of 10 healthy sugar gliders ( Petaurus breviceps ) and prevalence of ocular‐related presentations in a larger hospital population
Author(s) -
Fraess Garrett A.,
Sadar Miranda J.,
Daniels Joshua B.,
Sharkey Leslie C.,
Henriksen Michala de Linde
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
veterinary ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1463-5224
pISSN - 1463-5216
DOI - 10.1111/vop.12850
Subject(s) - medicine , retrospective cohort study , ophthalmology , population , pathology , environmental health
Objective To provide reference values for ocular examination and diagnostics in ophthalmologically normal sugar gliders ( Petaurus breviceps ). To retrospectively determine the prevalence of ocular diseases in sugar gliders presenting to a single institution. Animals Ten client owned and 106 previously evaluated sugar gliders. Procedure A descriptive study evaluated sugar gliders presented to Colorado State University's Avian, Exotics, and Zoological Medicine Service (CSU‐AEZ) from August‐2019 to January‐2020. A complete ophthalmic examination including Schirmer tear test II (STT II), phenol red threat test (PRTT), intraocular pressure (IOP) via rebound tonometry, fluorescein, and rose bengal stain was performed under anesthesia. Conjunctival aerobic culture swabs and cytology were collected prior to ophthalmic evaluation. A retrospective review of medical records of sugar gliders presented to CSU‐AEZ from 2008 to 2018 for ocular disease was performed. Results Mean values ± standard deviation for selected diagnostics included the following: STT II: 2.2 ± 6.7 mm/min; PRTT: 0 ± 0 mm/15 s; IOP: 12 ± 2.6 mm Hg. Fluorescein and rose bengal staining highlighted corneal abrasions secondary to tear testing. The three most common conjunctival bacterial isolates cultured were Staphylococcus spp. (3/20, 15%), Coryneform spp. (3/20, 15%), and unidentified Gram‐positive cocci (3/20, 15%). Retrospective analysis revealed ocular diseases to be the third most common abnormality resulting in sugar glider presentations (13/106, 12.3%). Conclusion This descriptive study gives reference values for IOP, conjunctival microbiology, and cytology for sugar gliders. STT II and PRTT provide little clinical value in sugar gliders. The retrospective study revealed that ocular abnormalities, often secondary to dental disease, are a common reason for presentation.