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Objective--To describe clinical, microbiological, in vivo confocal microscopic, and histo-pathologic features of fungal keratitis in alpacas and to estimate prevalence of the disease in a population of alpacas from the northeastern United States. Design--Retrospective case series. Animals--11 alpacas. Procedures--Medical records of alpacas evaluated by the ophthalmology service of a vet-erinary teaching hospital were searched to identify animals with a clinical diagnosis of fungal keratitis and positive results for fungal culture of a corneal sample between 2003 and 2012. Signalment and historical, clinical, and microbiological details were recorded. Results of cytologic, histopathologic, and in vivo confocal microscopic corneal examinations were collected when available. Results--Fungal keratitis was diagnosed in 11 of 169 (6.5%) alpacas that underwent ophthalmologic examination by the ophthalmology service during the study period. Ten of the 11 alpacas were evaluated in the summer or fall months. Corneal lesions included stromal ulcer, stromal abscess, corneal perforation, and nonulcerative keratitis. Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium solarii were the most frequently cultured fungi. Fungi were also identified through corneal cytologic examination, histologic examination, or in vivo confocal microscopy in 9 alpacas. Historically, 2 alpacas were evaluated following external ocular trauma and 1 following corneal foreign body removal. Nine alpacas had received topical treatment with antimicrobials and 2 had antimicrobial-corticosteroid combinations administered topically prior to referral. Nine of 10 alpacas for which follow-up information was available were successfully treated, with globe and vision retention. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--Fungal keratitis was a relatively common ocular disease in this population of alpacas and appeared to share several clinical features with keratomycosis in horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To evaluate signalment, clinical signs, treatment, and factors affecting visual prognosis in dogs with uveodermatologic syndrome (UDS). DESIGN Retrospective case series and nested cohort study. ANIMALS 50 dogs (37 Akitas and 13 non-Akitas) with UDS evaluated at 4 ophthalmology practices. PROCEDURES Data were collected from the medical records regarding signalment, clinical signs, biopsy results, medications, adverse effects, vision and glaucoma status at initial and subsequent examinations, and duration of follow-up. Various factors were examined for associations with development of blindness or glaucoma following initial examination. RESULTS The most common ophthalmic signs included aqueous flare (n = 35 [70%]), iris abnormalities (29 [58%]), retinal detachment (23 [46%]), and choroidal depigmentation or chorioretinal infiltrates (10 [20%]). At initial examination, 36% (18/50) of dogs had glaucoma and 57% (26/46) were blind in both eyes. Twenty-five (50%) dogs had vision at their final visit, representing 78% of the 32 dogs that had vision at initial examination or regained vision during the follow-up period. In dogs that lost vision, median time to permanent blindness in both eyes was 13.5 months (range, 0.4 to 59 months) after initial examination. No significant associations with time to glaucoma or vision loss were identified for signalment variables, specific medications, or duration of clinical signs prior to initial examination. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE UDS commonly resulted in glaucoma, vision loss, or both in affected dogs. No evaluated factor was associated with visual prognosis; however, a subset of patients maintained vision through to the final recheck examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]