Epidemiological Survey Identifying Risk Factors for Corneal Disease in Pinnipeds
IAAAM 2013
Carmen M.H. Colitz1*; William Saville2; Cathrine Atkin3; David Blyde3; Colette Bodenstaff4; Diana Boone5; Teri Corbett6; Beth Doescher7; Erica Gehring8; June Mergl8; Frederike Hanke9; Martin Haulena10; Eduardo Huguet11,18; Stephane Lair12; Michelle Encarnacion13; Ed Latson14; Barbara Mangold15; Duan March16; Pamela Ollen-Hughes17; Beverley Osborne17; Daniel Garcia Párraga18; Diana Proctor19; Tom Reidarson13,20; Jens-Christian Rudnick21; Mark Ryan22; Ana Malabia Sanchis23; Maria Márquez López23; Lydia Staggs24; Kristi Lee Dovich25; Meg Sutherland-Smith25; Larry Vogelnest26; Paola Smolensky27; and Ricardo Rebolledo27
1All Animal Eye Care, Jupiter, Florida, 33458, USA; 2The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA; 3SeaWorld, Gold Coast, Australia; 4South African Association for Marine Biological Research, Durban South Africa; 5Denver Zoo, Denver, Colorado, 80205, USA; 6Dolphin Cay, Paradise Island, Bahamas; 7SeaLife Park, Oahu, Hawaii, 96795, USA; 8Marineland Canada, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; 9Marine Science Center, Rostock, Germany; 10Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver British Columbia, Canada; 11Oftalmovet, Valencia, Spain; 12Aquarium du Quebec, Quebec City, Canada; 13Lantigua, Dolphin Explorer, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; 14Aquarium of Niagara, Niagara Falls, New York 14301, USA; 15Maritime Aquarium, Norwalk, Connecticut, 06854, USA; 16Dolphin Marine Magic, Coffs Harbour, Australia; 17Theater of the Sea, Islamorada, Florida, 33036, USA; 18Oceanografic, Valencia, Spain; 19Six Flags, Vallejo, California, 94589, USA; 20Sea Aquarium, Curacao; 21Rostock Zoo, Rostock, Germany; 22Underwater World, Mooloolaba, Australia; 23Mundomar, Benidorm, Spain; 24Gulf World, Panama City, Florida, 32413, USA; 25San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California, 92101, USA; 26Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Sydney, Australia; 27Dolphin Adventures, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Abstract
Our purpose was to determine the epidemiologically important risk factors predisposing pinnipeds under human care to corneal disease. In a prior study, we used a similar questionnaire to identify the risk factors for cataracts and lens luxation and found 4 risk factors. The questionnaire was sent to approximately 30 facilities and 25 returned the filled out document. Eighty questions regarding the animals' signalment, systemic and ophthalmologic histories, and environmental details were included. There were 303 animals, specifically 214 otariids, 72 phocids, and 16 walrus. There were 167 females and 136 males, average age was 15.28 years. One hundred-seventy eight animals had a history of eye disease, 163 had corneal disease, 41 had a history of systemic disease, and 46 had a history of trauma. There were 156 animals with concurrent lens luxation and/or cataract. There were 266 animals in salt water and 26 in fresh water. There were 249 animals with sun exposure in the exhibit and 140 animals had sun exposure in the show area. There were 31 animals housed indoors, 285 housed outdoors, and 18 housed in both indoor and outdoor enclosures. One hundred and six animals were display only, 72 were show only, and 101 were both. There were 105 animals in salinity below 33 ppt and 198 animals in salinity greater than or equal to 33 ppt. There were 87 animals exposed to ozone, 83 animals exposed to chlorine, 71 animals exposed to both ozone and chlorine, and 62 animals where there were no oxidants used in the pools while animals were present. Animals closer to the equator numbered 133 and those farther away numbered 174. This data is being evaluated using logistic regression analysis with an outcome variable of corneal disease in order to identify which parameters are the most important risk factors. We hypothesize that excessive exposure to UV/sunlight, low salinity, and pool oxidants are risk factors for corneal disease in pinnipeds. This data may then be useful for the future by helping to avoid or diminish the occurrence of corneal disease in pinnipeds under human care.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank all of the veterinarians, trainers, staff and animals involved in this amazing project.
*Presenting author