Ophthalmic examination findings in a colony of Screech owls (Megascops asio)

• Published in: Veterinary ophthalmology Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 186 - 192
• Main Authors: Harris, M.C, Schorling, J.J, Herring, I.P, Elvinger, F, Bright, P.R, Pickett, J.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Malden, USA : Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.05.2008; Blackwell Publishing Inc
• Subjects: Animals; bacterial colonization; bacterial infections; captive animals; captive birds; clinical examination; conjunctival microflora; dimensions; Eye Abnormalities - diagnosis; Eye Abnormalities - pathology; Eye Abnormalities - veterinary; Eye Diseases - diagnosis; Eye Diseases - pathology; Eye Diseases - veterinary; eyes; Female; health status; image analysis; Intraocular Pressure; laboratory techniques; Male; Megascops asio; normal values; Ocular Physiological Phenomena; ophthalmic examination; phenol red thread tear test; reference standards; Reference Values; Screech owl; Strigiformes; Strigiformes - physiology; tear production; tears; Tears - secretion; tonometry; Tonometry, Ocular - methods; Tonometry, Ocular - veterinary; ultrasonography; vision; wild birds
• ISSN: 1463-5216; 1463-5224
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00618.x

To report ophthalmic findings in the Screech owl (Megascops asio). Twenty-three, apparently healthy adult captive Screech owls in Maryland. OU of all owls underwent complete ophthalmic examination. One randomly assigned eye of each bird was measured by phenol red thread tear test (PRT), and the other eye by Schirmer tear test (STT). TonoVet® rebound tonometry and TonoPen-XL® applanation tonometry were performed in each eye to measure IOP. Conjunctival swabs were cultured from one eye of 10 birds, corneal diameter was measured in OU of eight birds, and streak retinoscopy was performed on OU of seven birds. Ten birds were anesthetized, and A-scan ultrasonography using a 15-MHz probe was performed to obtain axial intraocular measurements. Ophthalmic abnormalities were noted in 24/46 (52%) of eyes. Median STT result was This study reports ophthalmic examination findings in Screech owls, and provide means and ranges for various ocular measurements. This is the first report of rebound tonometry and PRT in owls.