Anterior paracentesis for management of ocular setariasis - a clinical study of five horses

Five Kathiavari crossbred horses were presented with impaired vision, corneal opacity, epiphora, conjunctivitis and blepharospasm. Clinical examination revealed live motile worm swirling in anterior chamber of right eye of three horses and left eye of two horses. All animals were properly restrained with Xylazine@ 1.1mg/kg b. wt. and Butorphanol @ 0.02 mg/ kg b. wt. under standing sedation and eye ball was fixed with auriculopalpebral and supraorbital nerve block. After aseptic preparation of eyeball, live motile worms were aspirated using disposable syringe with 16 gauge needle containing normal saline. Post-operatively, antibiotic and anti inflammatory opthalmic drops were instilled to affected eyes. All animals recovered fully with normal vision without any complications.