Cerreta Anthony J, McMullen Richard J, Scott Heather E, Ringenberg Jennifer D, Hempstead Julie E, DeVoe Ryan S, Loomis Michael R, Minter Larry J
Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, JT Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital, 1500 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Case Rep Vet Med. 2019 Jul 10;2019:2506263. doi: 10.1155/2019/2506263. eCollection 2019.
A 37-year-old bull African elephant () at the North Carolina Zoo (NCZ) was diagnosed with bilateral cataracts leading to behavioral changes and significant weight loss secondary to functional blindness. On initial examination, a weight loss of 234 kg, a mature cataract in the right eye, and a focal cataract in the left eye were diagnosed. Ultrasound and electroretinography (ERG) indicated normal retinal attachment and both eyes were viable candidates for surgery. After careful planning and behavioral training, the left cataract was surgically removed via phacoemulsification and irrigation/aspiration. The right eye subsequently developed a ventral lens subluxation, and phacoemulsification and irrigation/aspiration were performed six months after the first procedure. Four years after surgery, menace response, palpebral reflex, dazzle reflex, and pupillary light reflexes were present in both eyes. Body weight was 5,515 kg, 88kg more than at the time of the second surgery. This is the first published report of an African bull elephant undergoing bilateral cataract removal using phacoemulsification and irrigation/aspiration. The lack of significant postoperative inflammation and uneventful recovery of the elephant suggests that this surgical procedure along with proper preoperative planning and postoperative medical management can be a safe and effective treatment option for elephants with cataracts.
北卡罗来纳州动物园(NCZ)的一头37岁的雄性非洲象被诊断出患有双侧白内障,导致行为改变,并因功能性失明继发显著体重减轻。初次检查时,诊断出体重减轻234千克,右眼有成熟白内障,左眼有局灶性白内障。超声和视网膜电图(ERG)显示视网膜附着正常,两只眼睛都是手术的可行候选对象。经过精心规划和行为训练,通过超声乳化及冲洗/抽吸术手术摘除了左眼白内障。随后右眼出现晶状体腹侧半脱位,并在第一次手术后六个月进行了超声乳化及冲洗/抽吸术。手术后四年,两只眼睛均有威胁反应、眼睑反射、强光反射和瞳孔对光反射。体重为5515千克,比第二次手术时重88千克。这是第一份关于使用超声乳化及冲洗/抽吸术为一头雄性非洲象摘除双侧白内障的发表报告。大象术后炎症不明显且恢复顺利,这表明该手术方法以及适当的术前规划和术后医疗管理对于患有白内障的大象来说可能是一种安全有效的治疗选择。