Cytological evaluation of corneal ulcers in dogs

Abstract

This study encompassed 24 clinical cases of canine corneal ulcers presented to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Veterinary College, Bidar, and various veterinary hospitals across Karnataka between September 2022 and October 2023. Impression smears were prepared by gently pressing sterile glass microscope slides onto the ulcerated corneal surfaces to collect superficial epithelial cells for exfoliative cytological evaluation. Microscopic examination revealed both keratinized and non-keratinized corneal epithelial cells, accompanied by a notable infiltration of inflammatory cells, predominantly neutrophils and lymphocytes, along with the presence of bacterial organisms. Inflammatory cell predominance was detected in 66.67% of samples, while 33.33% exhibited mainly non-inflammatory cellular profiles. The results underscore the diagnostic value of impression cytology in characterizing the cellular and inflammatory responses associated with canine corneal ulcers, thereby supporting its application as a rapid, minimally invasive diagnostic adjunct for guiding therapeutic management.