Bilateral Phacoemulsification in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
A 37-year-old bull African elephant (Loxodonta africana) 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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2506263 |
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| author | Anthony J. Cerreta Richard J. McMullen Jr Heather E. Scott Jennifer D. Ringenberg Julie E. Hempstead Ryan S. DeVoe Michael R. Loomis Larry J. Minter |
| author_facet | Anthony J. Cerreta Richard J. McMullen Jr Heather E. Scott Jennifer D. Ringenberg Julie E. Hempstead Ryan S. DeVoe Michael R. Loomis Larry J. Minter |
| author_sort | Anthony J. Cerreta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A 37-year-old bull African elephant (Loxodonta africana) 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0e9d176b8b7041909a2cd7cf562496f9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-7001 2090-701X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-0e9d176b8b7041909a2cd7cf562496f92025-02-03T01:12:19ZengWileyCase Reports in Veterinary Medicine2090-70012090-701X2019-01-01201910.1155/2019/25062632506263Bilateral Phacoemulsification in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)Anthony J. Cerreta0Richard J. McMullen Jr1Heather E. Scott2Jennifer D. Ringenberg3Julie E. Hempstead4Ryan S. DeVoe5Michael R. Loomis6Larry J. Minter7Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USAAuburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, JT Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital, 1500 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849, USAHanes Veterinary Medical Center, North Carolina Zoo, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205, USABlue Pearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, 3000 Busch Lake Blvd., Tampa, FL 33614, USAGulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, 8042 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024, USADepartment of Animal Health, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 2901 Osceola Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USADepartment of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USADepartment of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USAA 37-year-old bull African elephant (Loxodonta africana) 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.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2506263 |
| spellingShingle | Anthony J. Cerreta Richard J. McMullen Jr Heather E. Scott Jennifer D. Ringenberg Julie E. Hempstead Ryan S. DeVoe Michael R. Loomis Larry J. Minter Bilateral Phacoemulsification in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine |
| title | Bilateral Phacoemulsification in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_full | Bilateral Phacoemulsification in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_fullStr | Bilateral Phacoemulsification in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bilateral Phacoemulsification in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_short | Bilateral Phacoemulsification in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
| title_sort | bilateral phacoemulsification in an african elephant loxodonta africana |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2506263 |
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