Ulcerative keratitis in paca (Agouti paca)

Abstract

Ulcerative keratitis is a disorder mainly caused by fights and scratches in rodents. This disorder was described in a 7-year-old female paca with ocular secretion, blepharospasm, chemosis, conjunctival hyperemia, edema and corneal neovascularization. After anesthesia using azaperone (1mg/kg, i.m.), ketamine (20mg/kg, i.m.) and xylazine (0.2mg/kg, i.m.), plus anesthetic collyrium (hydrochloride of tetracaine 0.5% and phenylephrine 10%), conjunctival covering of 360° was performed. Subconjunctival injection of gentamicine was done and the animal was kept using an Elizabethan collar in an individual pen, receiving analgesic (0.02mg/kg of buprenorphine, i.m.) three times a day for 2 days and pentabiotic every 48 hours during 10 days (30,000IU/kg of three penicillins and 12.5mg/kg of two estreptomicines, i.m.). After 30 days, important adhesion of the conjunctival bulb to the scarred cornea was noted and

phithisis bulbi observed. The surgical technique performed preserved the eye bulb although vision was lost.