Intraocular pressure in normal llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Lama pacos)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mean intraocular pressure in llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Lama pacos) using applanation tonometry.Animals studied: Ten llamas and 10 alpacas.Procedures: Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured with a Tono-Pentrade mark XL (Mentor Ophthalmics, Inc., Norwell, MA, USA). Three values, with 5% variance, were recorded for each eye. Least-squares means were determined for IOP for each eye of llamas and alpacas. Controlling for age, differences between left and right eye were analyzed using ANOVA. Two age groups were established, less than 5 years and greater than 5 years. The effect of age on IOP within each group was analyzed by linear regression. Probability values of less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Comparison of mean IOP between right (n = 20) and left eyes (n = 20), independent of species type, showed no differences in IOPs for llamas and alpacas. Mean IOP declined with increasing age in llamas and alpacas. Mean IOPs for 20 eyes in 10 llamas was 16.96 +/- 3.51 mmHg. Mean IOP for 20 eyes in 10 alpacas was 16.14 +/- 3.74 mmHg. Mean IOP for all eyes (n = 40), independent of species, was 16.55 +/- 3.55 mmHg. The range of IOP in normal llamas and alpacas within 2 SD (95% of the population) was 14.89+/-18.21 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in IOP between alpacas and llamas. Mean IOP in both species decreased with increased age.

Congenital cataracts and persistent hyaloid vasculature in a llama (Lama glama)

“…Intraocular pressures, measured with applanation tonometry (Tono‐Pen XL, Mentor O & O, Inc. Norwell, MA) were 18 mmHg in both eyes. These values were within the normal range for llamas 1 . The diagnosis in this case was bilateral mature cataracts.…”

Intraocular pressure in clinically normal dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)

“…19 In healthy horses without an auriculopalpebral nerve block, the mean ± SD IOP ranged from 24.5 ± 4.0 mm Hg to 28.6 ± 4.8 mm Hg. For example, the mean ± SD IOPs for the right and left eyes of llamas and alpacas are 15.27 ± 4.02 mm Hg and 17.64 ± 3.63 mm Hg, respectively, 24 whereas the mean ± SD IOPs for the right and left eyes of the immature camels of the present study were 31.1 ± 2.1 mm Hg and 30.8 ± 1.9 mm Hg, respectively. 29 Thus, given that IOP varies among species, it is important to establish a reference interval for IOP in each individual species.…”

“…3,24,41 Glaucoma is also associated with changes in IOP, although it is an infrequent disease of camelids. Uveitis and corneal ulcers are common ocular diseases of dromedary camels that are frequently associated with changes in IOP.…”

“…(Am J Vet Res 2015;76:149-154) lens luxation, glaucoma, and uveitis. 8 Applanation tonometry has been used to measure IOP in numerous clinically normal domestic and nondomestic animals, including dogs, 12-14 cats, 15,16 horses, 17 ponies, 18 dairy cattle, 19 sheep, 20 goats, 21,22 llamas, 23,24 alpacas, 23,24 rabbits, 25,26 rats, 27 ferrets, 28,29 chinchillas, 30 capybaras, 31 hedgehogs, 32 beavers, 33 Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana), 7 Grant zebras (Equus quagga boehmi), 7 oryxes, 34 Arabian oryxes (Oryx leucoryx), 7 Thomson gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii), 35 elands, 36 fallow deer, 36 addax antelope, 34 impalas, 34 wildebeests, 34 rhinoceroses, 34 capuchin monkeys, 37 koalas, 38 and lions. 10,11 In recent years, measurement of IOP in animals has evolved tremendously with the development of portable handheld digital tonometers.…”

Intraocular pressure and Schirmer tear test values in maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

“…Average IOP levels of several species have been reported in the literature, including hedgehog (20.1±4.0mmHg) (Ghaffari et al 2011), goat (Capra hicus) (10.8±1.7mmHg) (Broadwater et al 2007), Sanjabi sheep (9.60±2.87mmHg LE, 9.15±2.36mmHg RE) (Ghaffari et al 2011), llama (Lama glama) and alpacas (Lama pacos) 16.55±3.55mmHg (Nuhsbaum et al 2000), rhinoceros (32mmHg) , capybara (16.47±4.28 mmHg) (Montiani-Ferreira et al 2008), ferret (14.5±3.2mmHg) (Montiani-Ferreira et al 2006), zebra (29.47±3.43mmHg), Arabian oryx (11.76±3.43mmHg) (Ofri et al 1998) and broad-snouted caiman (12.9±3.2mmHg) (Oriá et al 2015).…”