Ocular Findings in A Captive Population of African Clawed Frogs (Xenopus laevis) and Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum).

ACF and TS tolerate ocular examination without sedation; baseline IOP and corneal sensitivity differ significantly between species.

This observational study established baseline ophthalmic reference data for two amphibian species by examining seven adult African Clawed Frogs (ACF) and seven Tiger Salamanders (TS) without chemical restraint. Ophthalmic examinations included tonometry, corneal esthesiometry, and conjunctival bacterial culture. ACF demonstrated higher intraocular pressure (24 mmHg median) and significantly reduced corneal sensitivity (2.25 mm corneal touch threshold) compared to TS. Ocular pathology in ACF included bilateral iris coloboma in one individual and unilateral cataracts in two frogs. TS exhibited bilateral nuclear cataracts in four animals with concurrent cortical involvement in two. Notably, five of seven ACF and all seven TS yielded positive bacterial cultures, predominantly gram-negative rods in salamanders. Both species tolerated ophthalmic examination without sedation, enabling diagnostic testing. This preliminary study provides essential baseline data for amphibian ophthalmology, establishing normal reference ranges for intraocular pressure and corneal sensitivity that may guide future clinical assessments and disease detection in captive populations.

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