Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ophthalmic findings associated with Australian tick paralysis (holocyclotoxicity) in hospitalized domestic dogs and cats.
- Journal:
- Veterinary ophthalmology
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Reynolds, B D et al.
- Affiliation:
- Eye Clinic for Animals · United Kingdom
Plain-English summary
This study looked at eye problems in dogs and cats that were hospitalized due to tick paralysis, a condition caused by toxins from ticks. Researchers examined 47 dogs and 28 cats and found that many of them developed corneal ulcers, which are painful sores on the surface of the eye. The absence of a reflex that normally causes the eyelids to close was linked to a higher chance of these ulcers and was also associated with more severe paralysis in the animals. Additionally, a test measuring tear production showed that many pets had low tear production, which was related to worsening paralysis. Overall, the study concluded that eye issues were common in pets with tick paralysis and tended to be more severe as the paralysis increased.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe ophthalmic findings in hospitalized canine and feline patients with tick paralysis (TP) and investigate possible predisposing factors. ANIMALS STUDIED: Forty-seven dogs and 28 cats hospitalized with TP assessed with an ophthalmic examination performed by an ABVO resident. METHODS: Dogs and cats were hospitalized with TP from October 2021 to January 2022 and had an ophthalmic examination performed by an ABVO resident. Patient signalment data, information regarding tick number and location, hospitalization duration, medications used, and patient paralysis grades were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to correlate findings. RESULTS: Corneal ulcers developed in up to 34.8% of dogs and up to 42.9% of cats hospitalized with TP. An absent palpebral reflex ipsilaterally increased the odds of a concurrent corneal ulcer being present by 14.7× in dogs and 20.1× in cats (p < .0001). Palpebral reflexes were absent in 38.3% of dogs and 35.7% of cats hospitalized with TP and were correlated with more severe gait paralysis (p = .01) and respiratory paralysis (p = .005) in dogs, and respiratory paralysis in cats (p = .041). STT-1 findings <10 mm/min were present in 27.7% of dogs and 57.1% of cats examined and were associated with increasing gait paralysis (p = .017) and respiratory paralysis (p = .007) in dogs, and increasing gait paralysis in cats (p = .017). CONCLUSIONS: Simple corneal ulcers, loss of a complete palpebral reflex, and reduced STT-1 scores frequently occurred in dogs and cats hospitalized for TP. The frequency of these findings increased as the degree of patient paralysis increased.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38468143/