Chronic ocular lesions in tawny owls (Strix aluco) injured by road traffic
- D. L. Williams, MA, VetMB, PhD, CertVOphthal, MRCVS1,
- C. M. Gonzalez Villavincencio, MRCVS2 and
- S. Wilson, MA, VetMB, MRCVS1
- 1 Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES
- 2 Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London
- Ms Gonzalez Villavincencio's present address is Parque las Aguilas del Teide, Urb Aguilas del Teide s/n, Arona, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- Ms Wilson's present address is 23 Wellington Street, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3BW
Abstract
The chronic ocular lesions suffered by 50 tawny owls (Strix aluco) injured by road traffic were investigated. They included non-healing corneal erosions, cataracts and retinal scarring, and periretinal membrane formation. The intraocular pressure was significantly lower in the eyes with intraocular inflammatory pathology and higher in the eyes with irido- or cyclodialysis than in ophthalmically normal eyes. Cicatritial retinal lesions were not associated with high titres of antibodies to Toxoplasma species. The findings correlate with those observed in human beings with eye injuries due to high-speed blunt trauma.
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