case_images: PMC11223448_01
case_images: A timeline describing the history, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up period of a confirmed ocular infestation by monogeneans in nine cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) (A), as well as a chronogram of treatments administered to incoming rays during the 35-day quarantine period prior to transport (B).
case_images: fvets-11-1401141-g001.jpg
case_images: PMC11223448_02_fvets-11-1401141-g001.jpg
case_images: fig1
case_images: Examinations occurred 2 weeks following initiation of treatment, then 3 weeks, 9 months, and 3.75 years (45 months) after treatment was completed (Figure 1).
case_images: Photographs of the right eye of a cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) at the time of confirmed monogenean ocular infestation (A) and at follow-up examinations halfway through treatment (B), at completion of treatment (C), and 3.75 years following completion of treatment (D). (A) Axial corneal perforation with associated prolapsed hemorrhagic uveal tissue. (B) Axial conical fibrosis with severe dyscoria and presumed anterior synechia in location of previous perforation. (C) Improving corneal clarity and dyscoria. (D) Mild axial fibrosis, resolution of previous anterior synechia and dyscoria, focal posterior synechia at 1 o'clock position, incipient axial anterior cortical cataract (not pictured).
case_images: fvets-11-1401141-g002.jpg
case_images: PMC11223448_02_fvets-11-1401141-g002.jpg
case_images: fig2
case_images: Examinations 3 weeks following completion of treatment were performed without sedation by the zoo's staff veterinarian, and all eyes (18/18; 100%) were documented to have healed corneal ulceration and signs of remodeling (Figure 2).
case_images: Photograph demonstrating the microscopic appearance of a ciliated oncomiracidium capsalid monogenoid, most likely Benedeniella posterocolpa, at 40X (A) and 100X (B) magnification collected via swab cytology from the corneal surface of a cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus). Distinguishing characteristics include two pairs of eye spots (black solid arrow) and two pairs of anchor hooks (red asterisk).
case_images: fvets-11-1401141-g003.jpg
case_images: PMC11223448_01_fvets-11-1401141-g003.jpg
case_images: fig3
case_images: Microscopy revealed an oncomiracidium, the ciliated larval form of a monogenean ectoparasite, with distinguishing characteristics of two pairs of eyespots and two pairs of anchor hooks (Figure 3) consistent with a diagnosis of capsalid monogenean infestation, most likely Benedeniella posterocolpa.
case_images: PMC11223448_02
case_images: A timeline describing the history, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up period of a confirmed ocular infestation by monogeneans in nine cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) (A), as well as a chronogram of treatments administered to incoming rays during the 35-day quarantine period prior to transport (B).
case_images: fvets-11-1401141-g001.jpg
case_images: PMC11223448_02_fvets-11-1401141-g001.jpg
case_images: fig1
case_images: Examinations occurred 2 weeks following initiation of treatment, then 3 weeks, 9 months, and 3.75 years (45 months) after treatment was completed (Figure 1).
case_images: Photographs of the right eye of a cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) at the time of confirmed monogenean ocular infestation (A) and at follow-up examinations halfway through treatment (B), at completion of treatment (C), and 3.75 years following completion of treatment (D). (A) Axial corneal perforation with associated prolapsed hemorrhagic uveal tissue. (B) Axial conical fibrosis with severe dyscoria and presumed anterior synechia in location of previous perforation. (C) Improving corneal clarity and dyscoria. (D) Mild axial fibrosis, resolution of previous anterior synechia and dyscoria, focal posterior synechia at 1 o'clock position, incipient axial anterior cortical cataract (not pictured).
case_images: fvets-11-1401141-g002.jpg
case_images: PMC11223448_02_fvets-11-1401141-g002.jpg
case_images: fig2
case_images: Examinations 3 weeks following completion of treatment were performed without sedation by the zoo's staff veterinarian, and all eyes (18/18; 100%) were documented to have healed corneal ulceration and signs of remodeling (Figure 2).
case_images: Photographs representing ophthalmic examination findings 3.75 years following monogenean ocular infestation in cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus). Findings are broadly classified as mild (A,B), moderate (C,D), and severe (E,F). Examination findings are described as follows: (A) Mild axial corneal fibrosis, otherwise normal examination including ovoid pupil aperture; (B) Focal moderate axial corneal fibrosis, otherwise normal examination; (C) Moderate diffuse corneal fibrosis, slight dyscoria, multifocal endothelial pigment deposits, axial anterior synechia spanning the pupil aperture (black asterisk), incipient axial anterior cortical cataract (not pictured); (D) Moderate axial corneal fibrosis, dyscoria, focal posterior synechia nasally (red asterisk), axial incipient anterior cortical cataract (not pictured); (E) Severe axial corneal fibrosis, dyscoria, early immature axial anterior cortical cataract (red arrow); (F) Severe axial corneal fibrosis, severe dyscoria, anterior synechia spanning pupil aperture (black asterisk), incipient axial anterior cortical cataract (red arrow).
case_images: fvets-11-1401141-g004.jpg
case_images: PMC11223448_02_fvets-11-1401141-g004.jpg
case_images: fig4
case_images: Table 1. The most common findings were corneal fibrosis (18/18 eyes; 100%), cataract formation (13/18 eyes; 72.2%), synechia (8/18 eyes; 44.4%), and dyscoria (5/18 eyes; 27.8%) (Figure 4).