Conjunctivitis, Keratitis, and Other Corneal Lesions
The underlying causes of spontaneous conjunctivitis vary from infectious agents (e.g., Pasteurella sp., rat coronavirus infections) to environmental factors. Spontaneous cases of conjunctivitis/blepharitis that occurred in a colony of nude rats were attributed to irritation and abrasions from a type of hardwood bedding.
Their lack of eyelashes was considered to be an important predisposing factor. The problem was resolved when the original
FIG. 2.73. Bilateral cataracts in an albino rat exposed to excessive ambient light. This typically occurs in concert with light-induced retinal degeneration.
FIG. 2.74. Lung from a rat that aspirated plant material. Note the presence of the aspirated material in the lumen of the airway and an associated inflammatory response.
bedding was replaced with a paper-based product. Keratitis sicca may be associated with lacrimal gland dysfunction following rat coronavirus infections (see “Rat Coronavirus Infection”).
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