Surgical removal of a filarial worm in the eye of a dog
Date
2001-11-16
Authors
De Silva, D. N.
Wijayawardhane, K. A. N.
Arulkanthan, A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Abstract
A two year old, male Germen Shepherd weighing 30 kg was brought for treatment to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Peradeniya with a complaint of progressive corneal opacity, irrespective of the treatment. General body condition of the animal appeared to be satisfactory.
The animal had been initially treated with eye drops containing antibiotics and steroids for about one month. Subsequently it had been treated for secondary glaucoma with "Timolol" eye drops and acetazolamide 10 mg/kg orally, twice daily for one week.
Both eyes were carefully examined using the ophthalmoscope. Sclera was severely injected and the cornea was almost completely opaque. Pupillary reflex was sluggish even though the lens was not clearly visible and the palpebral reflex was normal. A slender, white coloured worm was seen moving in the aqueous humour. The eyeball was protruded and the left eye was apparently normal.
A blood smear and a blood drop were examined for blood parasites. Special attention was focused on filariasis. The drop and the Knott's technique yielded negative results on blood, collected eight hourly within a day.
A surgical intervention was suggested to remove the worm. Animal was starved for six hours prior to the surgery and was pre medicated with chlorpromazine. Ketamine hydrochloride was used as the anesthetic agent to prevent the ventral deviation of the eyeball.
Peri-limbal incision was made laterally at the sclero-corneal junction. A small amount of aqueous humour was released together with the worm of about 3 inches long. Incision was sutured with surgical silk.
Postoperative treatment was continued with eye drops contammg gentamycin, betamethasone and parentral antibiotics for a few days. The worm was identified as a male Dirofilaria repens.
Description
Keywords
Surgical , Removal , Filarial , Eye , Dog
Citation
Proceedings & abstracts of the Annual Research Sessions 2001,University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka,pp.190