Carmen Colitz

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, PhD, Diplomate ACVO
• Owner at All Animal Eye Care, LLC and Animal HealthQuest Solutions, LLC

The suborder Whippormorpha is small by number but features the largest of all vertebrates, cetaceans (whales and dolphins), as well as hippopotamuses (Waddell et al. 1999). Despite previous consideration that hippopotamuses were more closely related to Suidae (pigs) (Geisler and Uhen 2005), common ancestry is to the Artiodactyla, or even-toed ungul...

Pinnipeds are a clade of semi-aquatic carnivorous fin-footed marine mammals that descended from the superfamily Arctoidea within the suborder Canifornia. This is the same suborder that gave rise to bears (Ursidae) and weasels (mustilidae) (Arnason et al. 2006; Delisle and Strobeck 2005). The Mustilidae are thought to be the most closely related spe...

Objective: Corneal ulceration secondary to trauma commonly affects marine mammals, often with opportunistic secondary bacterial or fungal infections. This report characterizes the combined use of auriculopalpebral and ophthalmic nerve blocks, adipose-derived stem cells, and subconjunctival injections for successful treatment of corneal trauma and...

Objective: Corneal ulcers are commonly encountered in pinnipeds. Prolonged oral antibiotics and topical ophthalmic solutions may not be practical to administer, and novel treatment techniques are desired. Thermodynamic gels are a potential solution because they hold antimicrobials at the site of injection, slowly releasing drug. This study investi...

Cetaceans in the wild and under human care develop a variety of ocular lesions. Although they have echolocation, cetacean species have good sight, making ocular health an important part of overall health care. The cornea is the primary site of abnormalities in both populations. Typical lesions of cetaceans under human care are characterized in this...

Emergencies involving the crystalline lens are not common; however, their clinical signs must be recognized quickly to begin treatment or referred immediately to improve the chances of retaining sight. The lens is a unique structure because of its immunologically privileged status and its imperative clarity for vision. Any insult to the lens capsul...

This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://clinmedlibrary.com/articles/ijdcr/ijdcr-2-023.php?jid=ijdcr.

The majority of dogs with diabetes mellitus develop blinding mature cataracts through the action of the enzyme aldose reductase producing sorbitol with osmotic action drawing water into the lens thus causing opacification. Here we evaluate the use of OcuGLO™ a formulation including the aldose reductase inhibitor alpha lipoic acid, grapeseed extract...

Objective: To evaluate and compare surgical outcome and complications in canine eyes with stable, cataractous lenses undergoing routine phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with or without implantation of a capsular tension ring device (CTR). Procedures: Dogs undergoing routine bilateral phacoemulsification and IOL implant...

Purpose: To confirm that lens epithelial cells (LEC) synthesize 17β-estradiol, active estrogen, and to identify the pathway(s) by which normal and cataractous LEC synthesize 17β-estradiol. Methods: ELISA was used to measure estradiol in aqueous humor; immunohistochemical staining was used to localize estradiol, testosterone and sulfatase; tritia...

The use of supplements has become commonplace in an effort to complement traditional therapy and as part of long-term preventive health plans. This article discusses historical and present uses of antioxidants, vitamins, and herbs. By complementing traditional medicine with holistic and alternative nutrition and supplements, the overall health and...

The method comprises steps of: providing a nutraceutical including, in combination, 1.13 to 3 mg lutein and 18.8 to 51.2 mg omega fatty acids and 1.9 to 5.2 mg grape seed extract and 1.9 to 5.2 mg alpha lipoic acid; determining the weight of each dose of the components in the combination based upon an amount per kg body weight of the animal patient...

A female South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) began having obvious clinical ophthalmologic problems by 8 weeks of age. The initial clinical sign was diffuse corneal edema, which progressed to bullae formation and ulcers; the underlying cause of corneal edema and bullous keratopathy was not identified antemortem. An ophthalmologi...

To determine whether celecoxib (CXB) can be released from incubated intraocular lenses (IOLs) sufficiently to inhibit lens epithelial cell (LEC) growth in an ex vivo model of posterior capsule opacification (PCO). LEC growth was evaluated for 14 days in canine lens capsules (LCs) that had been exposed to media containing 20 μM CXB for 1-5 days. Aft...

A male yearling harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) stranded and was brought to Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration's Seal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. The seal presented with a bilateral pendular vertical nystagmus, negative menace response, and a positive palpebral response. Ophthalmological examination by slit lamp biomicroscopy revealed...

To evaluate whether inhibition of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) would reduce or prevent posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in an ex vivo canine lens capsule model. Normal and cataractous lenses (n=6) were evaluated for pAkt via immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Primary cultures of lens epithelial cells (LEC) were exposed to ultraviolet light...

To establish a baseline range or average for tear production in normal juvenile dogs and evaluate the effects of age, weight, and gender on Schirmer tear test (STT) in juvenile dogs. Healthy puppies of various breeds <6 months of age. STT1 and STT2 were performed in both eyes of each subject. Statistical analysis was performed using a backwards ste...

To characterize a form of progressive keratitis that occurs commonly in otariids. One hundred and thirteen captive otariids were evaluated by ophthalmologic examination and digital photography. Forty-six females and 67 males were in the reference population, average age of 14 years. California sea lions predominated (n = 100); there were also six S...

This study analyzed the morphology of the California sea lion globe to determine what features may contribute to their characteristic visual abilities. Globes from the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW) collection were examined from gross photographs and microscopic sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin, trichrome,...

To evaluate effect of adjunctive treatment with tetracycline analogues on time to complete corneal reepithelialization in dogs with nonhealing (ie, refractory) corneal ulcers. Randomized controlled clinical trial. 89 dogs with refractory corneal ulcers. Corneal ulcers were treated via debridement and grid keratotomy. Dogs were assigned to receive 1...

To determine risk factors for lens luxation and cataracts in captive pinnipeds in the United States and the Bahamas. Cross-sectional study. 111 pinnipeds (99 California sea lions [Zalophus californianus], 10 harbor seals [Phoca vitulina], and 2 walruses [Odobenus rosmarus]) from 9 facilities. Eyes of each pinniped were examined by a veterinary opht...

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) expression has previously been evaluated in lens epithelial cells (LEC). However, its function in the lens has not been determined. One potential function may be its interaction with the catalytic subunit of telomerase (TERT), which is present in normal LEC and higher in LEC that have undergone epithelial to mesenc...

The purpose of this study was to determine the inhibitory effect of selenocystamine coated intraocularlenses (IOLs) on the formation of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in an ex vivo canine lens capsularbag assay.Selenocystamine was covalently bound to the surface of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)(poly(HEMA)) discs. Three groups of canine l...

At The Ohio State University from 1994-2006 six of seven horses evaluated for primary orbital disease were diagnosed with extra-adrenal paraganglioma (EAPG). The horses ranged in age from 14 to 24 years, with a mean of 16.8 years. Duration of clinical signs was 1.5 years to 5 years, with a mean of 2.8 years. Clinical signs varied, but all six had n...

To determine if molecular markers typically associated with ultraviolet exposure could be detected in canine ocular hemangiomas (HA) and hemangiosarcomas (HSA). Paraffin-embedded samples of canine ocular HA (n = 6) and HSA (n = 6) were examined for the presence of p53, p21, p16, cyclin D, PCNA, pAkt, telomerase, and estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha usi...

The purpose of this review is not to specifically discuss the techniques of veterinary cataract surgery, but rather to emphasize some of the differences between the veterinary and human cataract patients, procedures and outcomes. In general, veterinary cataract surgery has more similarities than differences when compared to its human counterpart. T...

Objective —To determine the role of intraocular bacteria in the pathogenesis of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) in horses from the southeastern United States by evaluating affected eyes of horses with ERU for bacterial DNA and intraocular production of antibodies against Leptospira spp. Sample Population —Aqueous humor, vitreous humor, and serum sam...

Objective: To determine the role of intraocular bacteria in the pathogenesis of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) in horses from the southeastern United States by evaluating affected eyes of horses with ERU for bacterial DNA and intraocular production of antibodies against Leptospira spp. Sample population: Aqueous humor, vitreous humor, and serum...

To determine potential differences in the characteristics of the iron storage protein ferritin and its heavy (H) and light (L) subunits in fiber cells from cataractous and noncataractous lenses of older dogs. Lens fiber cell homogenates were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and ferritin chains were immunodetected with ferritin chain-specific antibodies. Ferri...

A 3-year-old, spayed female, mixed-breed dog was evaluated for acute, progressive neurological disease. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed neutrophilic pleocytosis. The dog later developed liver disease, thrombocytopenia, and anemia that were presumably secondary to ceftriaxone administration. Bacterial cultures of blood, urine, and CSF w...

To determine whether ultraviolet (UV) radiation can modulate expression and regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) in the canine cornea and to examine the expression of MMPs in canine chronic superficial keratitis (CSK). Immunohistochemistry for MMP-2 and MMP-9 was performed on samples of CSK. In vitro, canine corneal epithelial cell (CEC) a...

To evaluate whether the effects of oxidative stress could be attenuated in cultures of canine lens epithelial cells (LECs) by incubation with grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSE), resveratrol (RES), or a combination of both (GSE+RES). Primary cultures of canine LECs. LECs were exposed to 100MM tertiary butyl-hydroperoxide (TBHP) with or withou...

The purpose of this study was to characterize the proliferation and differentiation of primary canine lens epithelial cells (LEC) under standard culture conditions. Canine LEC were isolated by mechanical dissection of the canine globe and enzymatic digestion of the lens capsule from fresh lenses. Isolated capsules and cell suspensions were seeded i...

To determine the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole following IV and PO administration and assess the distribution of voriconazole into body fluids following repeated PO administration in horses. 6 clinically normal adult horses. All horses received voriconazole (10 mg/kg) IV and PO (2-week interval between treatments). Plasma voriconazole concentrat...

Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) is important in maintaining lens epithelial cell homeostasis and reductions in GJIC may be associated with the development of cataract. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation can disrupt gap junction communication via phosphorylation of connexin 43 (C x 43) proteins that compose gap junction channels. This...

Epithelial cell migration during corneal wound re-epithelialization shares features with the developmental process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) modulated by Snail family transcription factors, including Slug. Our studies demonstrated that Slug expression was enhanced at sites of epithelial cell migration at the margins of normally hea...

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a risk factor for the development of ocular disease in humans, including acute photokeratitis, chronic corneal spheroidal degeneration, and cataract formation. This report describes the ocular lesions seen in 21 mice chronically exposed to UVR as part of a skin carcinogenicity study. All globes were affected to varyin...

To determine if cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is upregulated when lens epithelial cells (LEC) in clinical samples of cataracts and posterior capsule opacification (PCO) undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like changes. We also wanted to learn if inhibition of the enzymatic activity of COX-2 could prevent PCO formation. To ensure that EMT-lik...

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) increases in the human cataract and should correlate with increased DNA damage and proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs). The purpose of this study was to measure and immunolocalize RAGE in normal and cataractous canine LECs, and to determine whether there was a correlation between RAG...

The basics of molecular biology involve the replication of deoxyribonucleic acid and its transcription and translation into proteins. Biochemical assays such as the Southern blot analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Northern blot analysis, reverse-transcriptase PCR, microarray technology, Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-li...

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most common postoperative complication of contemporary cataract surgery. Limited information is available regarding PCO formation and factors that influence PCO development in the dog. Two hundred sixty-five eyes (144 from diabetic dogs and 121 from dogs with breed-related cataracts) were prospectively...

Purpose: Ultraviolet irradiation (UVR) increases telomerase activity in various cell types including skin, a sun-exposed organ. The lens is also continually exposed to UVR and we hypothesized that lenses exposed to UVR would have increased telomerase activity, with up-regulated TERT and TR, the two main components of the telomerase holoenzyme. To...

To identify visual outcome and postoperative complications following phacoemulsification of equine cataracts. Records of 39 horses (55 eyes) with cataracts were reviewed. Eyes with cataracts removed by phacoemulsification were included in the study. Data collected included age, breed, sex, stage and etiology of cataract, unilateral vs. bilateral in...

To determine whether the catalytic subunit of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is regionally distributed in canine lens epithelial cells (LEC), compare TERT and the RNA subunit of telomerase (TR) mRNA expression and TERT protein expression in normal and cataractous LEC, and to evaluate whether telomerase activity is present in the cytoplasm...

Uveitis is the inflammation of any or all parts of the vascular tunic of the eye; the vascular tunic includes the iris, the ciliary body, and choroid. A good knowledge base, up-to-date reference materials, and good instruments will improve the diagnosis of uveitis. Feline uveitis can be caused by numerous infectious agents in addition to neoplasia...

A 3-year-old cockatiel was presented for evaluation of a buphthalmic right eye (OD). The history included a traumatic event 5 months prior to presentation, and the referring veterinarian diagnosed cataract and secondary glaucoma. Computed tomography of the bird's orbital region revealed a large right orbital soft tissue mass that extended lateral t...

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage the human lens and contribute to cataract formation. Recent evidence suggests that apoptosis in lens epithelial cells (LEC) is an initiating event in noncongenital cataract formation in humans and animals. The present study examines the cellular and molecular mecha...

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage the human lens and contribute to cataract formation. Recent evidence suggests that apoptosis in lens epithelial cells (LEC) is an initiating event in noncongenital cataract formation in humans and animals. The present study examines the cellular and molecular mecha...

An adult male Savannah monitor lizard (Varanus exanthematicus) was presented for bilateral lens opacities that had progressed rapidly over the previous 2 months. A diagnosis of bilateral mature cataracts was made and phacoemulsification cataract extraction was performed. Surgery restored vision and normal activity to the patient.

A 9-year-old, female spayed, Domestic Long-haired cat was presented with bilateral, progressive, pink-white corneal opacities. The referring veterinarian had diagnosed feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) keratitis though diagnostics for FHV-1 had not been performed and treatment with antibiotics and antivirals did not improve the condition. Histopathology...

The objective of the study was to characterize the morphologic and immunohistochemical features of lens epithelial-derived proliferative membranes from the anterior segment of canine globes. These features were correlated with those previously identified for diseases resulting from lens epithelial cell (LEC) proliferation including posterior capsul...

An 11-year-old American Quarterhorse gelding presented for moderate periorbital swelling and exophthalmia of the left eye. The menace response, and direct and consensual pupillary light reflexes were absent in the left eye. Conjunctival hyperemia, blepharedema, a mydriatic pupil, resistance to retropulsion, and an increased intraocular pressure wer...

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein responsible for maintaining telomere length, preventing chromosomal degradation and recombination, and repairing DNA strand breaks. These activities are believed to be important in preventing cell senescence. Telomerase activity is normally found in germinal, neoplastic and stem cells, but not any ocular tissue stu...

Purpose: TgN3261Rpw is a line of mice generated at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as part of a large scale insertional mutagenesis program. A small percentage (8%) of TgN3261Rpw mice develop multiple ocular anomlies. It is known that hyalocytes induce apoptosis in these embryonic vessels causing them to regress.(Cell 1993;74:453-462) A large per...