Ultrasonographic and histopathologic features associated with common ocular diseases in donkeys (Equus asinus)

There is a lack of reports describing ultrasonographic and histopathologic features of ocular diseases in donkeys. The present study aimed to document ultrasonographic and histopathologic changes associated with common ocular diseases in donkeys. The study included 45 donkeys (64 eyes) with ocular diseases that had reached the end of their working lives and requested to be used for educational and research purposes. Complete clinical, ophthalmic, ultrasonographic, gross pathologic and histopathologic examinations were included. Ocular abnormalities were documented, tabulated, and analyzed. Seventy-five ocular abnormalities were diagnosed with multiple involvements within the same eye including anterior uveitis (n = 13; 22.8%), cataract (n = 57; 76%), retinal detachment (n = 3; 4%), lens and phthisis bulbi (n = 2; 2.6%). Descriptive ultrasonographic findings of ocular abnormalities were included. Gross pathologic and histopathology findings confirmed the ultrasonography findings. Ultrasonography provided a clinically useful tool offering insight into detailed intraocular structures especially with opacification of the dioptric structures of the eye.