Which of the following are clinical signs of Sialodacryoadenitis?

• A. Swelling of the cervical lymph nodes, inflamed salivary glands, chromodacryorrhea (red eye), sensitivity to light, and ophthalmic lesions
• B. Swelling of the cervical lymph nodes only
• C. Hair loss and tremors
• D. Diarrhea and dehydration

Answer: (A)

SDA is a viral infection in rats that classically affects the head and neck glands and the eyes. The main signs come from inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands in the neck, often with involvement of surrounding tissues, and from the lacrimal/ocular structures; this leads to chromodacryorrhea, the characteristic red or orange “red eye” discharge. The eyes themselves are inflamed, causing light sensitivity (photophobia) and other ophthalmic lesions such as conjunctivitis or keratitis. The presence of swollen glands plus red tears and ocular irritation forms the typical cluster of SDA signs. Other symptoms like hair loss with tremors or diarrhea and dehydration are not the hallmark features of this disease, so they don’t fit the usual SDA clinical picture.