Ultrasonographic and macroscopic anatomy of the enucleated eyes of the buffalo (Bos bubalis) and the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) of different ages

Anat Histol Embryol. 2012 Feb;41(1):7-11. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2011.01097.x. Epub 2011 Jul 25.

Abstract

The ultrasonographic appearance and measurements of the normal buffalo and camel eye globes were described in 60 buffaloes (Bos bubalis) aged 1 year (28 eyes) and 10 years (32 eyes), and in 51 humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) aged 1 year (26 eyes) and 10 years (24 eyes). Ocular measurements were recorded by A- and B-scan ultrasonographic examination of 40 buffalo eyes (18 young and 22 adult eyes) and 34 camel eyes (14 young and 20 adult eyes) using a KANGH ultrasound scanner equipped with 10 MHz probe. For gross measurements, 20 buffalo and 16 camel eye globes were frozen and dissected and the same measurements were made using fine callipers macroscopically. The aqueous and vitreous humour of the buffalo and camel eyes appeared anechoic. The cornea, anterior and posterior lens capsule and iris appeared hyperechoic. The ocular measurements for the axial length, vitreous chamber depth (VCD), corneal thickness, lens thickness and scleroretinal rim thickness increase with the advance of age in both buffaloes and camels. Except for the anterior chamber depth, VCD and lens thickness, which were larger in adult camels than in adult buffaloes, no other differences between ocular dimensions were observed in both species. The results of this study are valuable for comparative ocular anatomy and will be useful for ultrasonographic evaluation of ocular diseases in buffaloes and camels.

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Aqueous Humor / diagnostic imaging
  • Buffaloes / anatomy & histology*
  • Camelus / anatomy & histology*
  • Cornea / anatomy & histology
  • Cornea / diagnostic imaging
  • Eye / anatomy & histology*
  • Eye / diagnostic imaging*
  • Eye Enucleation
  • Female
  • Iris / anatomy & histology
  • Iris / diagnostic imaging
  • Lens Capsule, Crystalline / anatomy & histology
  • Lens Capsule, Crystalline / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vitreous Body / anatomy & histology
  • Vitreous Body / diagnostic imaging