Cartilaginous metaplasia in the sclera of Suffolk sheep.
Scleral cartilaginous metaplasia was detected by routine histologic examination of globes from 5 Suffolk sheep from a scrapie pathogenesis study. The extent of the metaplasia varied among the sheep but was always posterior to the tapetal fundus. The matrix surrounding chondrocytes stained intensely with alcian blue and was immunopositive for type II collagen. Retrospective evaluation of additional eyes from Suffolk and Cheviot sheep used in various scrapie pathogenesis studies at the authors' facility revealed similar histologic changes in 40% and 12.7% of eyes examined, respectively. The clinical significance of this previously unreported finding is unknown.
Smith
J D
JD
Virus and Prion Research Unit, USDA ARS National Animal Disease Center, 1920 Dayton Avenue, PO Box 70, Ames, IA 50010, USA. Jodi.Smith@ars.usda.gov
Hamir
A N
AN
Greenlee
J J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D012590:Sclera / Q000473:pathology*; D015422:Scleral Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000473:pathology*