Tear meniscometry test in wild animals

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to describe strip meniscometry test values for Amazona aestiva (turquoise-fronted amazon), Ara ararauna (blue-and-yellow macaw) and Caiman latirostris (broad-snouted caiman). Twenty-one Amazona aestiva and 11 Ara ararauna, healthy, adults of unknown sex, and 37 healthy adult Caiman latirostris (27 males and 10 females), were used in this investigation. All animals were manually restrained and I-Tear® Test strip was inserted for 5 s at the edge of the lower tear meniscus, without touching the eyelid or ocular surface, immediately followed by measurement (millimeter per 5 seconds). No differences were reported between left and right eyes for Amazona aestiva (P = 0.824), Ara ararauna (P = 0.262) and Caiman latirostris (P = 0.679). Median and confidence interval were 2.0 (2.25-3.56) mm/5s for Amazona aestiva, 3.0 (2.93-4.15) mm/5s for Ara ararauna and 3.0 (2.55-4.90) mm/5 s for Caiman latirostris. These values for strip meniscometry tear test can be used as parameters for each species and may be helpful for diagnosis and treatment of tear-production disorders in birds and reptiles.