Use of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) skin scaffold in corneal ulcer repair in Amazona aestiva
Case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31533/pubvet.v19n06e1792Keywords:
cornea, parrot, tilapia skinAbstract
his study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an acellular protein matrix (scaffold) derived from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) skin as a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of corneal ulcers in a turquoise-fronted amazon (Amazona aestiva) compared to conventional therapy. Corneal ulcers are common in small animal clinical practice and, in severe cases, require surgical intervention. However, accessible and effective treatment options remain limited. The scaffold, produced under strict biosafety standards, was applied to an adult male parrot with a corneal thickness loss of more than 80% and no response to previous treatments. The procedure involved general anesthesia, graft preparation with antisepsis, suturing over the lesion, application of antibiotic eye drops, and placement of a third eyelid flap. Postoperative observations included improved corneal transparency, absence of graft rejection, moderate vascularization followed by avascularization, good ocular lubrication (10 mm/min), preserved pupillary reflex, and intraocular pressure within the species' normal range. The scaffold functioned as structural support for complete tissue regeneration, promoting adequate epithelial adherence with no signs of infection, inflammation or discomfort. After 30 days, the parrot showed advanced corneal healing, conjunctival hyperemia without discomfort, and significant improvements to posture, mobility and behavior, returning to a normal feeding routine. The results indicate that tilapia skin scaffold is a highly compatible and safe biomaterial with a favorable cost-benefit ratio and potential for application in veterinary regenerative medicine, providing comfort and improved quality of life for animals. The successful outcome of this case reinforces the viability of this tissue scaffold for use in other species, establishing it as a promising innovation in veterinary ophthalmology.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mirza de Souza Melo, Sofphia Martins da Silva, Prof. Dr. Antonio Eufrásio Vieira Neto, Maria Elisabete Amaral de Moraes, Edmar Maciel Lima Júnior, Felipe Augusto Rocha Rodrigues, Carlos Roberto Koscky Paier, Manoel Odorico de Moraes Filho
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