Microsporidial stromal keratitis in a cat.

A 12 year-old female spayed felid presented after a 35 day history of right eye pain. On examination, a sub-epithelial opacity was identified in the cornea. A lamellar keratectomy was performed and histopathological analysis revealed low numbers of 2x4um, Gram, Hamatoxylin-eosin and Gomori methanamine-silver positive spores. Transmission electron microscopy found ultrastructural findings consistent with the phylum Microspora. To the author's knowledge, this is only the second case of microsporidial stromal keratitis reported in a felid.

Corneal invasion by hemangiosarcoma in a horse.

A 15-year-old gray Arabian gelding presented for evaluation of a lateral limbal mass extending across approximately 30% of the cornea. Grossly, the raised mass appeared nonpigmented, smooth, and irregular in shape, with an area of central necrosis and serosanguinous discharge. The mass was removed via lamellar keratectomy and histopathologic evaluation revealed features characteristic of hemangiosarcoma (HSA), including irregular vascular channels lined by a plump spindle cell population. Immunohistochemistry results showed that the neoplastic cells lining the vascular channels present diffuse and strong cytoplasmic reaction with von Willebrand Factor and the perivascular spindle cells exhibit moderate cytoplasmic reaction for smooth muscle actin. A lack of cytokeratin staining definitively excluded a diagnosis of atypical squamous cell carcinoma. Smooth muscle actin staining of the perivascular cells adjacent to the neoplastic endothelial cells is not a feature commonly described in HSA and has not been reported in previous cases of equine HSA. The horse remained in good health 21 months postkeratectomy and has exceeded the survival time of previously documented equine ocular HSA cases where more extreme surgical excision was performed.

Methods and characteristics used in resident selection within the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

A survey of Diplomates from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, which trains residents, confirms that subjective criteria are most commonly used in selecting new residents. The ophthalmologist(s) who oversee(s) the training was/were primarily responsible for resident selection. In general, Diplomates seemed to be searching for a resident who was intelligent, could communicate well, was hard working, and had good interpersonal skills. The most important part of an application was the letters of recommendation, with the most important consideration being how well the person doing the selecting knew the author of a letter. The current process of resident selection does result in a majority of residents' completing their programs and ultimately becoming Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

Canine choroidal melanoma with metastases.

A 3-year-old-female, spayed Golden Retriever was examined for a unilateral retinal detachment with exophthalmos. Ultrasonographically, a mass was detected with intra- and extraocular extension. The orbit was exenterated and the dog recovered uneventfully. Histopathologic diagnosis was a primary choroidal melanoma with orbital extension, however, the behavioral and cytologic features were benign. Routine examinations postsurgically were nonremarkable. Twenty-one months after surgery the dog was euthanized for respiratory collapse with radiographic signs of metastasis. Necropsy revealed black lesions in the lung and liver. Histopathologic diagnosis was metastatic melanoma with morphology and behavior identical to the primary choroidal melanoma. This is the first definitive case of a canine choroidal melanoma with metastasis.