Abstract
An one-year-old, female pointer dog with conjunctival hyperemia, corneal opaque and ocular pain in right eye was referred to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Chungbuk National University. In the ophthalmic examination the worm was observed in anterior chamber, The heart worm antigen test was positive. A modified Knott's test was negative. The values of complete blood count and serum chemistry (TP, BUN, creatinine, AST, ALT, ALP, albumin, globuline) showed normal ranges. Any abnormality was not detected in the heart using a thoracic radiography and cardiac sonography. Therefore, this dog was diagnosed as ocular filariasis. The worm was removed by surgical incision through a limbus of cornea. The closure of limbal incision was sutured in a simple interrupted suture pattern with 6-0 silk and the eye was reinflated with sterile saline solution. Antibiotics and dexamethasone ophthalmic solution were applied to right eye every 24 hours for 7 days. To prevent latent filariasis, ivermectin was also administered on day 14 of operation. The heart worm antigen test on day 60 was negative. The dog was successfully cured.
