BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the values of Schirmer tear test (STT) and determine effects of age, life stage, sex, breed and neuter status on tear production in healthy cats.MethodsThree hundred and forty-three domestic shorthair (DSH) and Persian cats, 50 days through 18 years old, were examined in this study. STT I was used to measure tear production in both eyes of each cat.ResultsA mean STT 14.9±4.8 mm/min was calculated for the eyes of all cats. There was a significant difference between STT values in kittens (≤6 months old) and cats of other age groups (P<0.001). A substantial number of cats with clinically normal eyes had STT values less than 10 mm/min. No significant difference was found between males (14.7±5.0 mm/min) and females (15.1±4.5 mm/min) in STT values (P=0.46). Significant differences were found between entire (14.4±4.2 mm/min) and neutered (16.2±4.1 mm/min) cats (P=0.001), and between STT values of DSH (14.6±5.0 mm/min) and Persian (16.5±3.1 mm/min) cats in the study population (P=0.001).ConclusionsThis study documents the average STT values for a sizeable feline population demonstrating that, in contradistinction to the situation in dogs, a number of cats with clinically normal eyes have STT values below 10 mm/min.

This study compared the STT I values of the dorsal and ventral conjunctival fornices in cats. The difference was significant between the L-STT I and U-STT I values; however, the L-STT I and U-STT I values were within normal reference intervals. The U-STT I data have diagnostic value that might be of benefit in cases where there is a problem in the ventral conjunctival fornix.

This study was performed to determine the normal seasonal aerobic and an-aerobic corneoconjunctival bacterial flora in cats. Thirty eyes of 15 clinically normal client-owned Persian cats were evaluated. All cats lived in a similar indoor/outdoor home environment being fed the same diet for the entire year. The cats did not receive any medications and were found to be clinically healthy 1 week prior to each microbial sampling. The cats were not exposed to other cats during the study period. Microbial samples were collected at the same time of day on the first day of the second month of each of the four seasons. During sample collection, a sterile swab was rolled over the corneoconjunctival surface avoiding contact with surrounding skin or hair. Immediately after sample collection, microbiologic aerobic and anaerobic cultures were initiated. Gram-positive bacteria were the most prevalent isolates. The most commonly isolated bacterial organisms across all seasons were Staphylococcus epidermidis (41/95; 43.2%),-hemolytic streptococcus (18/95; 18.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (17/95; 17.9%), and Escherichia coli (11/95; 11.5%). Twenty-five cultures of a total of 120 (20.8%) were negative. One negative culture was collected in the summer, while 21 cultures were negative in fall and winter. Gram-positive bacteria were the predominant microorganisms of the normal ocular surface of healthy cats in all seasons in this study. This result is in agreement with previous publications.

This study aimed to evaluate the bacterial flora in the conjunctival fornix of clinically normal Persian squirrels ( Sciurus anomalus). Forty healthy Persian squirrels of equal gender distribution with similar ages (approximately 2 yr) were used for this study. A total of 80 conjunctival swabs were taken from both the right and left eyes of each squirrel for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial identification. A slit-lamp examination was conducted and no external ocular disease was identified. From 80 normal eyes, Staphylococcus spp. comprised the most frequently isolated organism (83%), while Corynebacterium spp. were the second most frequently isolated bacteria (56%), followed by Streptococcus spp. (53%), Chlamydia spp. (33%). Mycoplasma spp. (30%), Pseudomonas spp. (23%), Escherichia coli spp. (12.5%), Enterococcus spp. (7%), and Micrococcus spp. (4%) were also isolated. The most frequently isolated bacteria from the conjunctival fornix of healthy Persian squirrels were Staphylococcus spp. followed by Corynebacterium spp.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate conjunctival microflora and measure normal tear production and intraocular pressure (IOP) in two breeds of hedgehogs (long‐eared hedgehogs and Brandt's hedgehogs). Methods Forty‐eight hedgehogs from two different breeds were chosen for the study. Tear production was measured using the Schirmer tear test (STT) and phenol red thread test (PRTT) in both eyes. IOP was measured using a rebound tonometer. To perform microbiological sampling one drop of tetracaine was instilled in the eyes. Two sterile microswabs were used to collect samples for the microbial and fungal culture. All the microswab samples were transferred in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) to the laboratory for culture. Two MacConkey and two blood agar media plates were employed for each eye. Oneplate of sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) was used for the fungal culture for each eye. Standard biochemical tests were performed to identify the isolated organisms. Results The mean STT and PRTT values were 1.6 ± 0.1 mm/min and 2.4 ± 0.3 mm/15 s in long‐eared hedgehogs and 2.2 ± 0.1 mm/min and 2.5 ± 0.3 mm/15 s in Brandt's hedgehogs, respectively. Mean (SD) Intraocular pressure of right eyes in long‐eared hedgehog and Brandt hedgehog were 19.7 ± 1.4 mmHg and 19.2 ± 2.4 mmHg, respectively. In the left eyes of long‐eared hedgehog and Brandt hedgehog mean (SD) IOP were 19.8 ± 1.5 mmHg and 19.5 ± 2.1 mmHg, respectively. In long‐eared hedgehogs, the most common bacteria were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus spp. In Brandt's hedgehogs, 24 out of 48 eyes had Staphylococcus epidermidis, which was the most commonly isolated bacterial species. Conclusions This study established reference intervals for IOP, STT and PRTT in hedgehogs and recognised and compared ocular conjunctival microflora in two breeds of hedgehogs.