Corneal stromal abscess in a captive Asian elephant: diagnosis and treatment regimes https://doi.org/10.12982/VIS.2023.050
Main Article Content
Abstract
Ocular injuries are often observed in elephants, most due to accidents. Diagnostic and treatment are challenging, as the elephants usually keep their eyes closed during examinations. This article describes the diagnosis and treatment regime of a juvenile captive female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus; approximately four years old) that showed signs of severe epiphora, blepharospasm, and corneal opacity in her left eye. Ophthalmic examination using a slit lamp and ocular ultrasonography revealed a corneal stromal abscess. Intensive treatment was performed, including administering intravenous antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs and an hourly eye topical treatment. The treatment regime was adjusted from time to time following the clinical signs and diagnostic results. The abscess was invisible within approximately five weeks (day 37). The treatment was continued until day 74 and then ceased. The eye recovered entirely, and only a small scar remained at the center.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Publishing an article with open access in Veterinary Integrative Sciences leaves the copyright with the author. The article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC-BY 4.0), which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited.
References
Angkawanish, T., Boonprasert, K., Homkong, P., Sombutputorn, P., Mahasawangkul, S.,Jansitiwate, S., Keratimanochaya, S., Clausen, B., 2009. Elephant health status in Thailand: the role of mobile clinic and elephant hospital. Gajah. 31, 15-20.
Bapodra, P., Bouts, T., Mahoney, P., Turner, S., Silva-Fletcher, A., Waters, M., 2010.Ultrasonographic anatomy of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) eye. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 41, 409-417.
Cheeran, J.V., Chandrasekharan, K., 2006. Veterinary problems of geographical concern:Section II-India. In: Fowler M.E., Mikota S.K. (Eds.), Biology, medicine, and surgery of elephants. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, pp. 439-474.
Grzybowski, A., Turczynowska, M., Schwartz, S.G., Relhan, N., Flynn, H.W., 2020. The role of systemic antimicrobials in the treatment of endophthalmitis: a review and an international perspective. Ophthalmol. Ther. 9(3), 485-498.
Kodikaran, D.S., Silva, N., Makuloluwa, C.A.B., Silva, N., Gunatilake, M., 1999. Bacterial and fungal pathogens isolated from corneal ulcerations in domesticated elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) in Sri Lanka. Vet. Ophthalomol. 2, 191-192.
Kraiwong, N., Sanyathitiseree, P., Boonprasert, K., Diskul, P., Chaoenpan, P., Pintawong, W.,Thayananuphat, A., 2016. Anterior ocular abnormality of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) in Thailand. Vet. Ophthalmol. 19, 269-274.
Mikota, S.K., 2006. Hemolymphatic system. In: Fowler M.E., Mikota S.K. (Eds.), Biology,medicine, and surgery of elephants. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, pp. 325-346
Murphy, C.J., Kern T.J., Howland, H.C., 1992. Refractive state, corneal curvature, accommodative rage and ocular anatomy of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).Vis. Res. 32(11), 2013-2021.
Paul, P., Hasan, T., Rahman, M.M., 2018. Medical management of bilateral corneal opacity in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus): a case report. J. Adv. Vet. Anima. Res. 5,98-100.
Preena, P., Arevind, B., 2017. Case report on the medical management of corneal opacity in a captive elephant tusker. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci. 5, 342-345.
Ramani, C., Thilagar, S., Babu, S., 2016. A report of bilateral hypopyon and uveitis in an Asian elephant. Intas. Polivet. 17, 378-379.
Rodriguez-Una, I., Baneros-Rojas, P., Jimenez, C., Diaz-Valle, D., Gegundez-Fernandez, J.A., Benitez-del-Castillo, J., 2017. Systemic antibiotics with ophthalmic clinical usefulness. Available online: https://www.jaypeedigital.com/book/9789351524991/chapter/ch7.
Suedmeyer, W.K., 2006. Special senses. In: Fowler M.E., Mikota S.K. (Eds.), Biology,medicine, and surgery of elephants. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, pp. 399-407.
Srinivasan, M., 2012. Corticosteroids: a possible treatment for corneal ulcers?. Expert Rev.Ophthalmol. 7, 1-3.
Tuntivanich, P., Soontornvipart, K., Tuntivanich, N., Won-gaumnuaykul, S., Briksawan, P.,2002. Conjunctival microflora in clinically normal Asian elephants in Thailand. Vet.Res. Commun. 26, 251–254.
Wiedner, E.B., Isaza, R., Galle, L.E., Barrie, K., Lindsay, W., 2006. Medical management of corneal stromal abscess in a female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). J. Zoo.Wildl. Med. 37, 397-400.
Wolfer, J., Rich, P., 1992. Persistent corneal erosion in an Asian elephant. Can. Vet. J. 33,337–339.