Ocular diseases of llamas: 194 cases (1980-1993).
Abstract: To identify ocular and adnexal diseases to which llamas in North America are susceptible, to determine prevalence of these diseases in llamas, and to compare prevalences of the major ocular diseases of llamas, cattle, and horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 194 llamas, 4,937 cows, and 11,950 horses with ocular disease. Methods: Medical records of all llamas entered into the Veterinary Medical Database between 1980 and 1993 were reviewed. Data on ocular structures affected and types of ocular disease were compiled. Prevalences of uveitis, corneal ulcers, and ocular squamous cell carcinoma in llamas were compared with prevalences in cattle and horses. Results: 194 of 3,243 (6%) llamas had at least 1 ocular disease. The proportion of llamas that had ocular disease was significantly higher than the proportions of cattle or horses. The most frequently affected ocular structure in llamas was the cornea, and ulcerative keratitis was the most common corneal disease. The second most commonly affected structure was the uveal tract. Cataracts were reported in 20 (10%) of the llamas with ocular problems. Eyelid disorders, retinal diseases, glaucoma, and ocular or adnexal neoplasia were reported infrequently in llamas. Conclusions: Results suggest that corneal disease is common in llamas and is usually secondary to trauma. Uveitis may also be common in llamas, but llamas do not appear to be highly susceptible to glaucoma, ocular neoplasia, or to direct corneal invasion by bacteria such as Moraxella sp.
Publication Date: 1997-06-15 PubMed ID: 9187731
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article summarizes a study conducted to identify eye-related diseases in North American llamas, tally their prevalence, and compare them to similar diseases in cows and horses. The study reviews veterinary medical records from 1980 to 1993.
Methodology
- The researchers conducted a retrospective study using medical records from the Veterinary Medical Database over a 13-year period (1980-1993).
- The analyzed subjects included 194 llamas, 4,937 cows, and 11,950 horses who had ocular (eye-related) diseases.
- Data on affected ocular structures and types of ocular diseases were compiled for analysis.
- After identifying the diseases, the outcomes in llamas were compared with those in cattle and horses.
Results
- Out of 3,243 llamas, 194 (or 6%) had at least one ocular disease. This proportion was significantly higher than in cattle or horses.
- The cornea was the most frequently affected ocular structure in llamas, with ulcerative keratitis identified as the most prevalent corneal disease.
- The uveal tract was the second-most commonly affected part of the eye.
- Cataracts were found in 20 (or 10%) of the llamas with eye problems.
- Eyelid disorders, retinal diseases, glaucoma, and eye or adnexal (structures surrounding the eye) cancers were reported infrequently in llamas.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that corneal disease is common in llamas, usually as a result of trauma.
- Uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye) may also be prevalent in llamas.
- However, llamas do not seem to be highly susceptible to glaucoma, eye cancers, or direct bacterial invasion of the cornea, such as by the Moraxella species.
Cite This Article
APA
Gionfriddo JR, Gionfriddo JP, Krohne SG.
(1997).
Ocular diseases of llamas: 194 cases (1980-1993).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 210(12), 1784-1787.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Camelids, New World
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / epidemiology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / veterinary
- Cattle
- Cattle Diseases / diagnosis
- Cattle Diseases / epidemiology
- Corneal Ulcer / diagnosis
- Corneal Ulcer / epidemiology
- Corneal Ulcer / veterinary
- Eye Diseases / diagnosis
- Eye Diseases / epidemiology
- Eye Diseases / veterinary
- Eye Neoplasms / diagnosis
- Eye Neoplasms / epidemiology
- Eye Neoplasms / veterinary
- Female
- Glaucoma / diagnosis
- Glaucoma / epidemiology
- Glaucoma / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Male
- North America / epidemiology
- Prevalence
- Retrospective Studies
- Uveitis / diagnosis
- Uveitis / epidemiology
- Uveitis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Aboellail TA, Waugh M, Harvey A, Fisher J, Vilander AC. Neoplasia and Proliferative Lesions of New World Camelids: A Systematic Literature Review and Retrospective Study of Cases Submitted to Colorado State University From 1995 to 2020. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:743498.
- Flores MM, Del Piero F, Habecker PL, Langohr IM. A retrospective histologic study of 140 cases of clinically significant equine ocular disorders. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020 May;32(3):382-388.
- Guyonnet A, Bourguet A, Donzel E, Bataille G, Pascal Q, Laloy E, Boulouis HJ, Milleman Y, Chahory S. Bilateral bullous keratopathy secondary to melting keratitis in a Suri alpaca (Vicugna pacos). Clin Case Rep 2018 Apr;6(4):626-630.
- Osinchuk S, Grahn B. Diagnostic Ophthalmology. Can Vet J 2018 Mar;59(3):315-316.
- Tejedor-Junco MT, Gutiérrez C, González M, Fernández A, Wauters G, De Baere T, Deschaght P, Vaneechoutte M. Outbreaks of keratoconjunctivitis in a camel herd caused by a specific biovar of Moraxella canis. J Clin Microbiol 2010 Feb;48(2):596-8.
- Jones ML, Gilmour MA, Streeter RN. Use of grid keratotomy for the treatment of indolent corneal ulcer in a llama. Can Vet J 2007 Apr;48(4):416-9.
- Webb AA, Cullen CL, Lamont LA. Brainstem auditory evoked responses and ophthalmic findings in llamas and alpacas in Eastern Canada. Can Vet J 2006 Jan;47(1):74-7.
- Grahn BH, Cullen CL. Diagnostic ophthalmology. Can Vet J 2001 Sep;42(9):735-6.
- Grahn BH, Cullen CL. Diagnostic ophthalmology. Bilateral idiopathic uveitis in a llama. Can Vet J 2001 Jul;42(7):575-6.
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