Vitreoretinopathy in Shih Tzu dogs

Histopathological and immunohistochemical feature

Thessaloniki – mechentel news – Retinal detachments and retinal tears have been observed in all examined cases of vitreoretinopathy in Shih Tzu dogs, so NG Papaioannou et al. of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Thessaloniki. Fifty cases of Shih Tzu ocular vitreoretinopathy were selected from the database of the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin. Cases with severe coexisting conditions (e.g. corneal disease, uveitis or endophthalmitis) were excluded. Microscopical changes were evaluated and immunohistochemistry was used to define spindle cells, gliosis and the presence of basement membranes in the vitreous. Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin and smooth muscle actin was also performed. The mean age of the 50 cases was 10.1 years (range 2.5-15 years). The result of the analysis was published in the July issue 2102 of the Journal of Comparative Pathology. The most characteristic microscopical abnormalities (50/50 cases) were retinal detachment and extensive retinal tear. Additionally, extracellular, eosinophilic matrix material admixed with few spindle cells, and pre-iridal fibrovascular membrane, goniodysgenesis, secondary glaucoma, hypermature and subcapsular cataract were detected. The spindle cells within the collagen matrix were strongly labelled for expression of vimentin, with weaker expression of smooth muscle actin.

Authors: Papaioannou NG, Dubielzig RR. Correspondence: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Study: Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Features of Vitreoretinopathy in Shih Tzu Dogs. Source: J Comp Pathol. 2013 Feb;148(2-3):230-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2012.05.014. Epub 2012 Jul 20. Web: http://journals.lww.com/oprs/Abstract/publishahead/ Tissue_Ingrowth_Into_Perforated.99481.aspx