Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How well vets agree on dog corneal ulcer tests
By Hamzianpour, N et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2022·Eye Veterinary Clinic, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Assessment of the inter-rater agreement of corneal cytology and culture findings in canine ulcerative keratitis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with worsening eye problems, specifically ulcerative keratitis (a painful corneal ulcer), underwent tests to identify the cause of their condition. Veterinarians of varying experience levels examined samples from the dogs' eyes, and they found that more experienced vets were better at agreeing on the results. In 56% of the cases, they identified bacteria like Streptococcus canis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the culprits. This study highlights the importance of using both eye sample tests and the expertise of the veterinarian to accurately diagnose and treat these eye infections.
People also search for: dog eye problems ulcerative keratitis · dog corneal ulcer treatment · why is my dog squinting
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the inter-rater agreement of corneal cytology findings in canine ulcerative keratitis by veterinary surgeons of different training levels and the agreement of corneal cytology with culture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dogs with progressive ulcerative keratitis were prospectively recruited for corneal cytology and culture. Corneal cytology slides were reviewed by veterinary surgeons of different training levels (three general practitioners, three ophthalmologists and three pathologists). The inter-rater agreement of cytology findings and agreement of cytology with culture was assessed using the kappa measure of agreement. RESULTS: The study included 145 corneal cytology samples from 143 dogs (145 eyes) with progressive ulcerative keratitis. Positive cultures were obtained from 81 of 145 (56%) eyes. The most commonly isolated pathogens were Streptococcus canis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. The results demonstrated increased inter-rater agreement of corneal cytology and increased agreement with culture with increased ocular pathology expertise (pathologists > ophthalmologists > general practitioners). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides important information about the diagnostic value of corneal cytology in canine ulcerative keratitis and the most common pathogens involved in such cases in the UK. Based on the results of this study, cytology findings should be interpreted in conjunction with the expertise of the observer. For maximal pathogen identification, both cytology and culture should be considered.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34937128/