Ophthalmic diseases are common in rabbits and rodents. Fast and definitive diagnosis is imperative for successful treatment of ocular diseases. Ophthalmic examination in rabbits and rodents can be challenging. Oculoscopy offers great magnification for the examination of the ocular structures in such animals, including the evaluation of cornea, anterior eye chamber, limbus, iris, lens, and retina. To date, oculoscopy has been described only sporadically and/or under experimental conditions. This article describes the oculoscopy technique, normal and abnormal ocular findings, and the most common eye disorders diagnosed with the aid of endoscopy in rabbits and rodents.
- MeSH
- Rodentia anatomy & histology MeSH
- Rabbits anatomy & histology MeSH
- Rodent Diseases diagnosis MeSH
- Eye anatomy & histology MeSH
- Eye Diseases diagnosis veterinary MeSH
- Ophthalmoscopes veterinary MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Rabbits anatomy & histology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Review MeSH
- MeSH
- Orthohantavirus pathogenicity MeSH
- Hemagglutination Tests MeSH
- Rodentia microbiology MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Rats MeSH
- Animals MeSH
Rodents are a speciose group of mammals with strong zoonotic potential. Some parts of Africa are still underexplored for the occurrence of rodent-borne pathogens, despite this high potential. Angola is at the convergence of three major biogeographical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, each harbouring a specific rodent community. This rodent-rich area is, therefore, strategic for studying the diversity and evolution of rodent-borne viruses. In this study we examined 290 small mammals, almost all rodents, for the presence of mammarenavirus and hantavirus RNA. While no hantavirus was detected, we found three rodent species positive for distinct mammarenaviruses with a particularly high prevalence in Namaqua rock rats (Micaelamys namaquensis). We characterised four complete virus genomes, which showed typical mammarenavirus organisation. Phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses revealed: (i) the presence of a significantly divergent strain of Luna virus in Angolan representatives of the ubiquitous Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis), (ii) a novel Okahandja-related virus associated with the Angolan lineage of Micaelamys namaquensis for which we propose the name Bitu virus (BITV) and (iii) the occurrence of a novel Mobala-like mammarenavirus in the grey-bellied pygmy mouse (Mus triton) for which we propose the name Kwanza virus (KWAV). This high virus diversity in a limited host sample size and in a relatively small geographical area supports the idea that Angola is a hotspot for mammarenavirus diversity.
- MeSH
- Arenaviridae classification genetics MeSH
- Phylogeny MeSH
- Genome, Viral MeSH
- Arenaviridae Infections veterinary MeSH
- Geography, Medical MeSH
- Rodent Diseases epidemiology virology MeSH
- Prevalence MeSH
- RNA, Viral MeSH
- Whole Genome Sequencing MeSH
- Disease Reservoirs virology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
