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ABSTRACT OF THE WEEK

Veterinary ophthalmology
Volume 20 | Issue 2 (March 2017)

Epidemiology and clinical presentation of canine cataracts in France: a retrospective study of 404 cases.

Vet Ophthalmol. March 2017;20(2):131-139.
Elise Donzel1, Léa Arti2, Sabine Chahory3
1 Unité de Recherche en Ophtalmologie Vétérinaire, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.; 2 Unité de Recherche en Ophtalmologie Vétérinaire, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.; 3 Unité de Recherche en Ophtalmologie Vétérinaire, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.
© 2016 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To determine the epidemiology and the clinical presentation of cataracts in a population of dogs in France.
PROCEDURES:Records of dogs affected by a cataract presented at the Ophthalmology Unit of Alfort Veterinary School during 2009-2012 were reviewed. The etiology was determined for each dog. The signalment of affected dogs, their medical history, age of onset, stage of progression, location of opacities, and ocular lesions associated were evaluated for each etiology.
RESULTS:A total of 2739 dogs were presented at the Ophthalmology Unit from 2009 to 2012. Four hundred and four dogs (14.7%) (716 eyes) were diagnosed with a cataract. The population included 218 males (54%) and 185 females (46%). The gender was not recorded for one dog. The mean age (±SD) of all dogs affected by a cataract was 9 years (±3.9 years). Fifty-four breeds were represented. The Yorkshire Terrier was the only breed significantly overrepresented. The causes of cataracts observed were breed predisposition (28%), aging (22.8%), progressive retinal atrophy (12.4%), congenital cataract (5%), diabetes mellitus (4.7%), trauma (3.7%), uveitis (3%), and hypocalcemia (0.2%). In 20.3% of the cases, the etiology could not be determined. Ocular lesions associated with cataracts reported were lens luxation or subluxation (11.1%), glaucoma (3.7%), and retinal detachment (4.2%).
CONCLUSIONS:In a French population of referred dogs, 14.7% were affected by a cataract. The main causes identified were breed predisposition, aging, and progressive retinal atrophy. A breed predisposition for the Yorkshire Terrier was recorded.

Companion Notes

Retrospective report on the epidemiology and clinical signs of cataracts in 404 dogs in France

Introduction on cataracts in the dog

- associated with major complications include the following:

- lens-induced uveitis

- secondary glaucoma

- retinal detachment

- lens luxation

- reported causes of cataracts include the following:

- breed-related cataract

- congenital cataract

- senile cataract

- cataracts secondary to metabolic disorders

- diabetes mellitus

- hypocalcemia

- dietary deficiencies

- injury to the lens

- inflammation

- medications

- toxins

- common prevalence and associated with impaired vision or vision loss

- prevalence reported in teaching hospitals in 3 continents

- Asia: reported prevalence: 5.4%

- most frequently affected breeds:

- miniature/toy poodle

- Yorkshire terrier

- shih tzu

- South America: reported prevalence: 9%

- most frequently affected breeds:

- toy poodle

- cocker spaniel

- Bichons Frisé

- North America

- prevalence determined only for breed-related cataracts: 2.42%

(assessed from 94-03)

- breeds with the highest prevalence of breed-related cataracts

- smooth fox terrier

- Havanese

- Bichons Frisé

- Boston terrier

- miniature poodle

- silky terrier

- similar data not reported for Europe

Study design

- study population: dogs with a cataract presenting to Alfort from 09-12

- 2739 dogs presented to the Ophthalmology Unit during those years

- 404 (14.7%) (716 eyes) were diagnosed with a cataract

- procedure: records retrospectively reviewed

- findings suggestive of a congenital cataract

(in neonates or in older dogs)

- “fetal nucleus sometimes associated with adjacent anterior

and posterior cortex”

- no progression

- presence of other ocular developmental abnormalities

- findings suggestive of inherited cataracts

- in young to middle-aged purebred dogs

- localization and appearance of lens opacity in initial stages

- course of progression

- bilateral nature

- no other ocular disorders that might cause cataract formation

- findings suggestive of senile cataracts were age and presentation

- age cut-offs for senile cataracts

- large breed dogs: 6 years of age

- small breed dogs: 10 years of age

- opacification in the adult nucleus of lens

- associated with 1 of the following:

- dense nuclear sclerosis

- cortical opacities

- concurrent or separate from nuclear cataracts

- slow progression

Results

- overall history & signalment

- male, 54%; female, 46% (gender not recorded for one dog)

- mean age: 9 ± 3.9 years

- Yorkshire terrier significantly overrepresented out of 54 breeds

- Odd Ratio was 1.6 (P = 0.008) for all cataracts etiologies

- clinical signs

- stage of progression (not recorded for 110 eyes)

- incipient, 84 eyes

- immature, 259 eyes

- mature, 150 eyes

- hypermature, 113

- unilateral problem, 89 dogs

- history & signalment by type of cataract

- causes of the cataracts included the following:

- breed predisposition, 28% (51 sex:Fs and 62 sex:Ms)

- mean age was 6.7 ± 3.2 years with a range of 1-13 years

- breeds most frequently affected (n ≥ 5)

- Jack Russell terrier, 11 cases at 5.2 ± 3 years

- Yorkshire terrier, 11 at 7.4 ± 2.4 years

- English cocker spaniel, 8 at 6.7 ± 3.1 years

- Labrador retriever, 8 at 5.5 ± 3.2 years

- Maltese, 6 at 8 ± 4.4 years

- toy/miniature poodle, 6 at 10.3 ± 2.3 years

- American cocker spaniel, 6 at 6.6 ± 4 years

- pinscher, 6 at 7 ± 2 years

- French bulldog, 5 at 3.8 ± 1.9 years

- aging (senile), 22.8% (43 sex:Fs and 48 sex:Ms)

- mean age: 13 ± 1.9 years with a range of 8-18

- breeds most frequently affected (n ≥ 7)

- toy/miniature poodle, 16

- Yorkshire terrier, 12

- shih tzu, 7

- bilateral, 82 (unilateral in 9)

- all stages of progression present among the cases

- idiopathic (etiology could not be determined), 20.3%

- progressive retinal atrophy, 12.4% (25 sex:Fs and 25 sex:Ms)

- all stages of progression present among the cases

- opacities in both nucleus and cortex, 44 eyes (cortex only in 50)

- breeds most frequently affected

- Labrador retriever, 19 cases at 8.6 ± 1.7 years

- toy/miniature poodle, 14 at 8.5 ± 1.9 years

- English cocker spaniel, 5 at 8 ± 2.7 years

- congenital cataract, 5% (7 sex:Fs and 13 sex:Ms)

- mean age at presentation:

- 2.5 ± 3.2 years with a range of 0.2-11 years

- bilateral, 15 cases (unilateral in 5)

- incipient in 7 cases, immature in 12 and mature in 2

- opacities in both nucleus and cortex, 14 dogs

- other congenital lesions, 14 cases

- posterior lenticonus, 9

- microphthalmia, 7

- microphakia, 3

- persistence of hyaloid artery, 3

- PHPV-PHTVL, 2

- persistence of pupillary membrane, 1

- optic nerve coloboma, 1

- anterior lenticonus, 1

- intralenticular hemorrhage, 1

- diabetes mellitus, 4.7% (13 sex:Fs and 6 sex:Ms)

- mean age at onset: 10 ± 2.2 years with a range of 7-16 years

- trauma, 3.7% (5 sex:Fs and 10 sex:Ms)

- blunt trauma, 14 cases (penetrating ocular injury in 1)

- mean age at onset: 6.6 ± 4.4 years with a range of 0.3-15 years

- unilateral in all cases

- uveitis, 3%

- hypocalcemia, 0.2 %

- ocular lesions reported associated with cataracts

- lens luxation or subluxation, 11.1%

- glaucoma, 3.7%

- retinal detachment, 4.2%

“Some dogs included in the congenital cataract group could also have been included in the breed-related cataract group. A congenital cataract associated with other ocular congenital abnormalities was diagnosed in one West Highland White Terrier dog, one Akita Inu dog, two Australian Shepherd dogs, and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs. This has been reported as breed-related condition in these four breeds….”

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