A rare case of endometrioma in a bitch

Background

Endometriosis is ectopic development of endometrial glands and stroma in extra-uterine sites and if the lesions occur as a well-defined mass is referred to as endometrioma. In the literature, endometrioma has been reported in only women and there are no reports of endometrioma in animals, including non-human primates.

Case presentation

A rare case of endometrioma is reported in an 11-year-old female German Shepherd with clinical signs of dehydration, anemia and prostration. Necropsy revealed ascites, generalized pallor, and a well-demarcated reddish mass adjacent to the left ovary and uterus and adherent to the retroperitoneum. The mass measured 25.0 × 20.0 cm with intermingled soft and firm areas. Upon incision, the mass was found to be solid with variable sized cystic cavities filled with coagulated blood. Microscopically, the mass was composed of cuboidal or prismatic epithelial cells arranged in tubules or acini. The epithelium of the mass had similar characteristics to the normal endometrium with PAS-positive secretions. The stroma was prominent and formed by loose connective tissue and smooth muscle fibers as confirmed by Masson trichrome. Extensive multifocal areas of hemorrhage were also observed in the stroma of the mass and in the interior of some epithelium-lined, cystic structures. Most of the epithelial cells had strong and diffuse cytokeratin expression, and some had vimentin expression. Epithelial and stromal cells also showed ERβ, AR, VEGF and COX2 expression. The stroma showed areas with strong and diffuse vimentin expression. Factor VIII expression was observed only in the endothelium of blood vessels in the stroma.

Conclusions

The macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical findings are consistent with an endometrioma.     

A case of post-operative generalized staphylococcal infection in a bitch

A case of post-operative generalized infection in a 9-year-old, cross-bred terrier bitch is described. A coagulase-positive strain of Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from an acute inflammatory lesion in the foreleg (the site of intravenous injection), the viscera and the major limb joints. The animal showed lesions of endocarditis, myocarditis, hepatitis, nephritis, splenic infarcts and polyarthritis. It is suggested that the entry of the organism and its preliminary multiplication occurred at the site of the intravenous injection of the anaesthetic used for inducing a general anaesthesia. Résumé. Observation d'une septicémie post-opératoire chez une chienne terrier métissée de 9 ans. On a isolé une souche de staphylocoques dorés coagulase-positive à partir d'un foyer inflammatoire aigu de la patte antérieure (siège d'une injection intraveineuse), des viscères et des grandes articulations des membres. L'animal présentait des lésions d'endocardite, de myocardite, d'hépatite, de néphrite, d'infarctus de la rate et de polyarthrite. On suppose que le germe Pathogène a pénétré dans l'organisme et s'est multiplié tout d'abord au lieu de l'injection intraveineuse de l'anesthésique utilisé pour provoquer une anesthésie générale. Zusammenfassung. Ein Fall von postoperativer generalisierter Infektion bei einer 9 Jahre alten Terrier-Hündin aus einer Kreuzung wird beschrieben. Aus einer akuten entzündlichen Läsion am Vorderbein (der Stelle einer intravenösen Injektion), den Eingeweiden und den grossen Gliedmassengelenken wurde ein koagulasepositiver Stamm von Staphylococcus aureus isoliert. Das Tier zeigte Läsionen von Endocarditis, Myocarditis, Hepatitis, Nephritis, Milzinfarkten und Polyarthritis. Es wird angenommen, dass der Eintritt des Organismus und die anfängliche Vermehrung an der Stelle der intravenösen Injektion des für eine Vollnarkose gegebenen Narkotikums erfolgte.     

A case of a bitch with imperforate hymen and hydrocolpos

A 38-month-old female Golden retriever was presented with dysuria and dyschezia. It was difficult to visualize the vagina by vaginoscopy due to a cystic polyp on the hymen. The polyp was 2 x 3 cm in diameter, round, and pink in color. From clinical and imaging evaluations the original diagnosis was mucometra or pyometra. From endoscopic examination of the vagina an imperforate hymen was finally diagnosed. The ovaries, uterus, and half of the vagina were removed through a median abdominal incision. The vagina contained about 1.5 liters of fluid, but the uterus and ovaries appeared normal. This is a rare case with imperforate hymen and hydrocolpos with a polyp on the hymenal membrane in bitch.     

An unusual case of hydronephrosis in a bitch

Hydronephrosis may be due to acquired or congenital causes. In this article the clinical and pathological features of a ureteric mass causing unilateral hydronephrosis in a young bitch are described and the nature of the obstruction is discussed.     

A case of osteochondritis dissecans of the stifle joints in a bitch

A condition of the stifle joints of a young Alsatian bitch, resembling osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral head of the dog, is described. This case is compared with osteochondritis dissecans of the canine humeral head and with osteochondritis dissecans of the human knee.
Résumé. On décrit une atteinte du grasset d'une jeune chienne alsacienne ressemblant à l'ostéo-chondrite disséquante de la tête humérale du chien; on fait un parallèle entre la présente observation, et l'ostéochondrite disséquante de l'articulation du genou humain.
Zusammenfassung. Es wird ein Zustand der Kniegelenke einer jungen Schäferhündin beschrieben, die der Osteochondritis dissecans des Humeruskopfes beirn Hund gleicht. Dieser Fall wird mit Osteochondritis dissecans des Humeruskopfes des Hundes und mit Osteochondritis dissecans des menschlichen Knies verglichen.     

A collagen dysplasia in a greyhound bitch

A 10-month-old greyhound bitch was referred to the Massey University Small Animal Clinic in January 1979, with a history of frequently occurring skin lacerations, especially of the feet and limbs. Clinical findings included multiple skin scars, lacerations and hyperextensibility of the skin.

Investigations showed an increased extensibility index of the skin and a sevenfold reduction in its tensile strength, as compared with that of a normal greyhound. On light microscopy dermal collagen fibres appeared to be slightly decreased in density and more whorled in appearance than that of normal sections. Electron microscopy showed dermal collagen fibrils and bundles which were largely normal, but areas could be found, in the papillary layer of the dermis, where malformed fibrils were prominent, and other areas showed disorganisation of fibrillar packing.

These findings indicated that this bitch had features of a collagen fibrillogenesis disorder similar to some of those described in the various forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in man, and cats and mink. Whether the disease is inherited in the greyhound breed has not yet been determined.     

A huge ovarian cyst in a hysterectomized bitch

A 11-year-old, spayed, female mixed breed-dog was presented with an abdominal mass that was detected 1 month ago. Upon abdominal palpation a large, firm, oval shaped, movable mass was found in the mid-abdominal region. Survey radiograph of the abdomen demonstrated an oval soft tissue dense mass located on the right side of the abdominal cavity. A large, heteregenous and cystic mass with solid components occupying the majority of the abdomen and a small, cystic mass with solid components caudal to the left kidney were identified by transabdominal ultrasonography. Computed tomography scans revealed bilateral ovarian masses, and a small volume of retroperitoneal fluid on the right side. A cystic, but otherwise solid mass located in the right ovary and small retained left ovary encapsulated in the ovarian bursa were excised surgically by midline laparotomy. Histopathological examination of the excised mass from the right side revealed a large cystic structure consistent with an ovarian cyst and multiple corpora lutea and follicles at different maturational stages were detected in the left ovary. The precise origin of the ovarian cyst could not be determined by morphological appearance. Immunohistochemical staining suggested a cyst of surface epithelial origin. At re-examination 6 months after the surgery, the bitch appeared healthy and the clinical findings were all normal. To our knowledge, the cyst described here is the largest reported in an incompletely ovariohysterectomized bitch.