Subconjunctival Antimicrobial Poloxamer Gel for Treatment of Corneal Ulceration in Stranded California Sea Lions
- Medicine
Abstract
Objective: Corneal ulcers are commonly encountered in pinnipeds. Prolonged oral antibiotics and topical ophthalmic solutions may not be practical to administer, and novel treatment techniques are desired. Thermodynamic gels are a potential solution because they hold antimicrobials at the site of injection, slowly releasing drug. This study investigated the clinical efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated poloxamer gel in management of corneal ulceration.
Animal studied: Twenty-six California sea lions undergoing rehabilitation at The Marine Mammal Center.
Procedures: 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.
Results: 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).
Conclusions: 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.
Simeone, C., Colitz, C.M.H., Colegrove, K.M., Field, C.L., Rios, C., Chandler, H.L., Johnson, S.P. 2016. Subconjunctival antimicrobial poloxamer gel for treatment of corneal ulceration in stranded California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Veterinary Opthamology. 2016 1-9.
Related Publications
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/cropped-images\/es-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-3-2-1214-3454-3512-1600891002.jpg","alt":"northern elephant seal","title":"Diagnostic Tests for Lungworm-Infected Northern Elephant Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/diagnostic-tests-for-lungworm-infected-northern-elephant-seals","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/cropped-images\/csl-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-7-0-1446-2827-2208-1603918668.jpg","alt":"California sea lion on pool ledge","title":"Effectiveness of Antibiotics in Treating Leptospirosis in California Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/effectiveness-of-antibiotics-in-treating-leptospirosis-in-california-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
Effectiveness of Antibiotics in Treating Leptospirosis in California Sea Lions
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Elephant seal\/cropped-images\/elephant-seal-bull-shutterstock-640-0-3728-2911-1626818513.jpg","alt":"large northern elephant seal on a beach","title":"Use of Potassium Chloride for Low-Residue Euthanasia of Anesthetized Seals and Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/use-of-potassium-chloride-for-low-residue-euthanasia-of-anesthetized-seals-and-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
Use of Potassium Chloride for Low-Residue Euthanasia of Anesthetized Seals and Sea Lions
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Other species\/cropped-images\/weddell-seal-shutterstock-256-0-3788-2959-1639535584.jpg","alt":"Weddell seal laying on the ice","title":"A Safe and Effective Reversible Field Sedation Protocol for Weddell Seal Pups","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/a-safe-and-effective-reversible-field-sedation-protocol-for-weddell-seal-pups","label":"Research Paper"}
A Safe and Effective Reversible Field Sedation Protocol for Weddell Seal Pups
Read MoreRelated News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Elephant seal\/cropped-images\/01. SNI Andromeda_NOAA permit-174-0-1270-992-1733414759.jpg","alt":"A northern elephant seal with a satellite tag on its head on the beach in front of crashing waves. ","title":"Studying Elephant Seals of the Central California Coast","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/studying-elephant-seals-of-the-central-california-coast","label":"News Update","date":"2024-12-06 12:21:47"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/2022\/cropped-images\/csl-torple-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-6-10-4475-3495-1664989112.jpg","alt":"California sea lion Torple in a pool with her head in the air","title":"SFGATE: Hundreds of Sea Lions Sickened Along California Coastline","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/sfgate-hundreds-of-sea-lions-sickened-along-california-coastline","label":"In the News","date":"2022-10-05 02:00:00"}
SFGATE: Hundreds of Sea Lions Sickened Along California Coastline
October 5, 2022
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/2014\/cropped-images\/csl-orchard-photo-c-the-marine-mammal-center-1350-74-2950-2304-1713994848.jpg","alt":"California sea lion Orchard","title":"The Curious Case of the Sea Lion That Couldn\u2019t Catch His Breath","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-curious-case-of-the-sea-lion-that-couldnt-catch-his-breath","label":"Patient Update","date":"2014-11-19 01:00:00"}
The Curious Case of the Sea Lion That Couldn’t Catch His Breath
November 19, 2014
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/2015\/cropped-images\/es-solar-eyedrops-by-rachel-assink-c-the-marine-mammal-center-0-2-4053-3166-1713988796.jpg","alt":"Eyedrops are applied to the eye of northern elephant seal patient Solar","title":"Three Blind Pinnipeds: Treating Blindness in Seals and Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/three-blind-pinnipeds-treating-blindness-in-seals-and-sea-lions","label":"Patient Update","date":"2014-07-25 02:00:00"}
Three Blind Pinnipeds: Treating Blindness in Seals and Sea Lions
July 25, 2014
Read More