Rabbit- abscess in iris

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Robert Whiteford — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:29:00 GMT

Extirpation and ablation - another two lovely words....

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:12:56 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Incidentally, I have a question (genuinely puzzled). Why do people always refer to "enucleation" rather than "eye removal"?

[/quote]

Probably just habituation to jargon mostly, but in some instances may be because "eye removal" is deemed vague and, having referred to a popular surgical text for the procedure in the past, wish to specify "enucleation" as opposed to "exenteration"?

"Enucleation is the removal of the globe, the nictitating membrane, and the lid margins. Exenteration is removal of the globe, nictitating membrane, orbital contents, and lid margins. Enucleation is indicated after severe ocular trauma, intractable glaucoma, endophthalmitis, panophthalmitis, intraocular neoplasia, congenital defects, or intractable infections. Exenteration is indicated for intraorbital neoplasia or ocular neoplasia that has extended beyond the globe." (Fossum, 3rd ed.)

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Richard Fox — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:38:28 GMT

How about the terms Spay, Hysterectomy, Castration - all "old" english surgical terms with little meaning :)

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Kate Richardson — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:34:33 GMT

Or why not an eyectomy or an oculoectomy

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Richard Fox — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:21:41 GMT

Correct historical nomenclature? ;)

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:16:54 GMT

Sorry no pictures yet. The lump, roughly a tenth of an inch in diameter, is almost dangling out of the edge of the iris with stretched tissue and some tiny blood vessels running back about halfway into the iris. It shows no sign at present of adhesion to lens. It was this appearance that made me wonder about local excision. It looks as if, if it weren't inside the eye (), you could just snip it out with two cuts to remove a narrow V.

Incidentally, I have a question (genuinely puzzled). Why do people always refer to "enucleation" rather than "eye removal"?

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Vikki Halliday LLB — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:29:28 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]what are the prospects of success in an attempted excision of the lesion? I mean by an ophthalmic surgeon, of course.[/quote]

Not sure Evelyn, but if it is attached to the iris only, in theory you may be able to have it resected, however if it is not fully visible on the front of the iris I would have to suspect it has originated from the uveal tract, and therefore excision is unlikely to be possible.

Have you managed to get any piccies yet? Us ophthalmology nerds are waiting pensively!

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

CatherineThomas — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:17:38 GMT

Weekly depocillin injections can sometimes work well for rabbit abscesses. I don't have the dose with me at the moment but could find it tomorrow. I've not used it for an abscess in the eye but It would be worth a try, along with panacur, before going for enucleation. Although I don't know if you would get effective concentrations of penicillin in the eye?

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Richard Fox — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 07:47:32 GMT

I am not an ocular surgeon but I very much doubt that excision would be a viable option and most of these "abcesses" or granulomas focally obliterate the iris. You would have to remove this and the risks of the inlflammation +/- infection which is contained in the lesion may very well worsen the uveitis. But I guess if enucleation is your next option then? That is of course assuming it is inflammatory and not neoplastic (although a irido-cilliary adenoma would be very unlikely). Sorry prob does help much.

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:19:26 GMT

Going back to one of my original questions: since the visible lesion is smallish and circumscribed at present and there is not (yet) a general uveitis, what are the prospects of success in an attempted excision of the lesion? I mean by an ophthalmic surgeon, of course.

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Richard Fox — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:25:27 GMT

Another vote for E. Cuniculi. I had a histopath case, unfortunately you rare ID organisms on regular special stains. Serology/PCR is however considered unreliable apart from PCR on emulsified lens material.

Have a look at this google book excerpt: Link

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:35:02 GMT

I have to be honest and agree with Bob about panacur, although it may be that we clear the infection but the damage has already occured and even with acular/pred forte etc if they have phacoclastic uveitis then they must be in chronic pain and enucleation would be the next step. although if both eyes are affected then not a good option.

would be good to see a photo, does sound like 2 conditions. any bunny people out there?

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Bob Russell — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:00:15 GMT

"'tain't dental, trust me."

I think I trust you on that one! Mine is another vote for E. cuniculi. Do people find Panacur that good - my results have been disappointing with it?

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:06:46 GMT

'tain't dental, trust me.

There are no other signs of uveitis.

I'm familiar with the sort of eye appearance illustrated by Vikki and Chris Jones, and this is different. However, maybe it's just an unusually neat one, or early.

If this is Encephalitozoon cuniculi (which the rabbit is supposed to have been treated prophylactically against before sale by the pet supermarket), will fenbendazole treatment arrest development of this abscess? I'll start it on Panacur tomorrow anyway.

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Vikki Halliday LLB — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:37:33 GMT

Yup, does sound like an E.cuniculi problem, they don't generally do terribly well, and you should, (if you can ) monitor the IOP.

I have a similar one which has progressed to also develop a bilateral glaucoma, and although this is hereditary in some rabbits, it can be secondary to uveitis.

The snuffles could be related, or you could have something else. Dental disease doesn't normally lead to introcular abscesses, as it tends to first cause a dacryocystitis, or a frank peridontal abscess, however you can have haematogenous spread of some bacteria to the iris.

Is the rabbit showing any other signs of uveitis? The snuffles could also be related to increased lacrimation from ocular pain, so try Atropine/tropicamide to relieve iris spasm if miotic, and topical steroids if other signs of uveitis present such as scleral congestion, aqueous flare etc.

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:21:57 GMT

sounds like e.cuniculi usually looks like a white blob growing from the lens or iris - signs of a phacoclastic uveitis.

the eye may not do very well, try panacur and topical steroids or nsaids (acular) may help. needs systemic tx would help the other eye but could end up as an enucleation which isnt a lot of fun in a bunny.

a photo would be good. If it is an abscess then a bunny person would be good to get an opinion from ? dental.

Re: Rabbit- abscess in iris

Andre Escudeiro-Vieites — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:15:48 GMT

My first thought would be E cuniculi causing eye lesions. They usually happen in young ones with granulomas looking like white patches arround the iris/lens. Concurrent infections with Pasteurella are common.

Have you considered this, maybe a 28 days course of panacure rabbit (or the other licenced one I don't remember the name of)