Mesothelioma in a calf

A 5-month-old Holstein heifer was hospitalized because of progressive abdominal distention and decreased growth rate. It had continued to eat and was alert until 5 days before hospitalization. High BUN and serum aspartate transaminase values, hypoproteinemia, and a stress leukogram were ascertained from clinicopathologic evaluation. Oral electrolyte therapy was begun, but the calf died. Necropsy revealed multiple nodules (0.5 to 6 cm diameter) attached to the peritoneum, throughout the abdominal cavity. The histopathologic diagnosis was mesothelioma.     

Intersexuality in horses

Intersexuality is a rare congenital anomaly of horses. Diagnosis of intersexuality is difficult because there are usually no specific changes in the reproductive tract visible. During a period of five years, ten patients with reduced fertility or suspected intersexuality respectively were investigated using cytogenetic, molecular genetic, histopathological and endocrinological methods. In one case a 64,XX/63,X0 mosaicism was found. In six cases male pseudohermaphroditism was verified. These patients showed a male karyotype, testes and rudimentary parts of a female reproductive tract were present. One horse was suspected to be a male pseudohermaphrodite but the gonads were not examined. One horse was suspected to be affected by an XX-sex several syndrome and in one case a SRY-negative XY-sex reversal syndrome was most likely. In the case of an XX-sex reversal syndrome, there is a female chromosomal constitution, an uterus and cranial parts of the vagina are present but also testes tissue and possibly an enlarged penis like clitoris. Here an XX-sex reversal syndrome was suspected but not confirmed as it was not possible to examine the gonads and verify tissue from testes. Therefore a pseudohermaphroditismus femininus could not be excluded. In cases of XY-sex reversal syndrome the patients show a male chromosomal constitution, parts of a female reproductive tract but no testes tissue is present. For the horse described here, a deletion of the SRY gene was the most likely cause for the XY-sex reversal syndrome.