Thelaziosis

Diagnosis of canine (and human) thelaziosis is usually based on the finding of the adult nematode on the conjunctiva at the clinical and ophthalmological examinations. The larvae or adult nematodes appear as a thin, creamy-white thread in the conjunctival sac. The nematodes can be collected by flushing saline from the medial canthus, with the eye secretions then submitted to a microscopical parasitic examination in order to detect the typical newborn L1. Generally diagnosis can be difficult if small numbers of adults are present.