A poloxamer gel mixed with 2% enrofloxacin was subconjunctivally injected in the treatment group.
Control animals received oral doxycycline. Systemic anti-inflammatories and analgesics were administered as needed.
Corneal examinations under general anesthesia were repeated weekly, and included sampling for bacterial culture and corneal cytology, collection of high-quality corneal images, and treatment administration until the ulcers were healed.
There was no gross or histologic evidence of a localized tissue reaction to the gel administration in the conjunctiva, and no evidence of systemic reaction to therapy in animals that died due to unrelated causes during the study period (n = 17).
In animals that experienced a superficial corneal ulcer involving only epithelium or superficial stroma (n = 12), all lesions resolved completely, in both treatment and control groups.
Of those animals with deeper or more complex ulcers involving keratomalacia or descemetoceles (n = 15), four demonstrated complete lesion resolution (all four received gel treatment).
This study demonstrates that subconjunctival antibiotic poloxamer gel administration is a safe and effective alternative therapeutic option to traditional treatments for superficial corneal ulceration in pinnipeds.
Source: Simeone, C. A., Colitz, C. M. H., Colegrove, K. M., Field, C. L., Rios, C., Chandler, H. L. and Johnson, S. P. (2016), Subconjunctival antimicrobial poloxamer gel for treatment of corneal ulceration in stranded California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Veterinary Ophthalmology. doi: 10.1111/vop.12447
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