Uterine horn intussusception in immediate post-partum in a Pomeranian Spitz dog.

A 2-year-old Pomeranian-Spitz dog (5.8 kg) was admitted with symptoms of uterine prolapse and lethargy 1 day after whelping three puppies. The prolapsed uterus was corrected, but the next day, prolapse reoccurred. To fix the cervix to the abdominal wall, the dog underwent a surgery operation where intussusception in the left horn of the uterus was found. Ovariohysterectomy was performed as the treatment of choice. The diagnosis of intussusception is challenging, and exploratory laparotomy is the reliable diagnostic approach. Although uterine intussusception is rare, it should be one of the important considerations in dogs within the post-partum period.

Reproductive diseases in captive Agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) / Doenças reprodutivas em cutias em cativeiro (Dasyprocta leporina)

Reproductive diseases have been well documented in domestic livestock such as sheep, goat, cattle and pigs. However, there is very little information on these diseases in the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina). The agouti is used for its meat in South America and the Caribbean. More recently, intensive farming of this animal is being practiced in the Neotropics. There is dearth of information on dystocia and vaginal prolapses in the agouti. This document reports on three cases of reproductive diseases in captive reared agoutis in Trinidad and Tobago. The first case was a female agouti weighing approximately 3 kg that was in the last stage of pregnancy, which was found dead in its cage. The vulva of the mother had the protruding hind-limbs of the fetus. Necroscopic evaluation of carcass revealed little fat tissue and the mother had two fetuses in the right horn of the uterus. Each fetus weighed approximately 200 g. The fetuses were well formed with fur, teeth and eyes. The placenta was attached to each fetus. The pathological findings suggested that dystocia resulted from secondary uterine inertia which was the cause of death of the adult female agouti. The second case was that of an adult female agouti weighing 2.5 kg. This female had given birth to an offspring three weeks prior and was observed to have had a vaginal prolapse. Surgery was performed and the prolapsed vagina was placed back into the pelvic cavity. Further to this intervention, the vagina prolapsed twice. Subsequent to the re-insertion of the vaginal tissue the agouti was euthanized. The third case was also that of a dystocia. However, the fetuses weighed 235 g and 165 g respectively and were in normalpresentation, posture and positioning. The fetus however was unable to pass via the vagina and was trapped in the pelvic cavity. This caused secondary uterine inertia which was the cause of death. The causes of reproductive diseases in these cases are unknown but the feeding [...].

As doenças reprodutivas têm sido bem documentadas em rebanhos domésticos, como ovinos, caprinos, bovinos e suínos. Porém, há muito pouca informação sobre essas doenças na cutia (Dasyprocta leporina). A cutia é usada como carne na América do Sul e no Caribe. Mais recentemente, a criação intensiva desse animal está sendo praticada na região neotropical. Há escassez de informações sobre distocia e prolapsos vaginais na cutia. Este documento relata três casos de doenças reprodutivas em cutias criadas em cativeiro em Trinidad e Tobago. O primeiro caso foi de uma cutia de aproximadamente 3 kg que estava na última fase de gestação, encontrada morta em sua gaiola. A vulva da mãe tinha as patas traseiras salientes do feto. A avaliação necroscópica da carcaça revelou pouco tecido adiposo e a mãe tinha dois fetos no corno direito do útero. Cada feto pesava aproximadamente 200 g. Os fetos eram bem formados com pelos, dentes e olhos. A placenta foi presa a cada feto. Os achados patológicos sugeriram que a distocia resultou de inércia uterina secundária, que foi a causa da morte da cutia adulta. O segundo caso foi ode uma cutia adulta pesando 2,5 kg. Essa fêmea deu à luz uma cria três semanas antes e foi observado que tinha prolapso vaginal. A cirurgia foi realizada e a vagina prolapsada foi colocada de volta na cavidade pélvica. Após essa intervenção, a vagina prolapsou duas vezes. Após a reinserção do tecido vaginal, a cutia foi eutanasiada. O terceiro caso também foi de distocia. No entanto, os fetos pesavam 235 g e 165 g e estavam em apresentação, postura e posicionamento normais. O feto, entretanto, não conseguiu passar pela vagina e ficou preso na cavidade pélvica. Isso causou inércia uterina secundária, que foi a causa da morte. As causas das doenças reprodutivas nesses casos são desconhecidas, mas o manejo da alimentação e o espaço concedido à cutia no final da gestação podem ser fatores contribuintes.

[Surgical resection in a case of vaginal fold prolapse during oestrus in a Great Dane]. / Chirurgisches Vorgehen bei einem Vaginalfaltenvorfall in der Läufigkeit bei einer Deutschen Dogge.

The surgical procedure for a grade IV oestrogen-related vaginal fold prolapse in a Great Dane is described. Furthermore, the possibilities of conservative therapy for this disease are presented and a more recent surgical technique as well as the dog's postoperative course are discussed. The principle of conservative treatment is to shorten the bitch's cycle by means of medically inducing ovulation and thus subsequently reducing the influence of estrogens on the prolapsed tissue. Advantages of both therapeutic approaches are discussed. The presented case's interesting aspect is that conservative therapy did not lead to a successful outcome for which the cause is not clear.

Uterine intussusception in immediate postpartum in bitches: case report / Intussuscepção uterina no puerpério imediato em cadelas: relato de caso

Uterine intussusception is a rare condition in bitches. This study aimed to report an unusual case of prolapsed uterine intussusception in a female dog. A 2-year-old American Bully bitch was received with labor history of large fetus requiring manual traction. The animal presented mucosal prolapse through the vulva, unproductive contractions and abdominal discomfort. After partial correction of mucosal prolapse, the dog was referred to ovary-hysterectomy surgery to correct prolapsed mucosa. During the surgical procedure, surgeons observed that the uterine horns were invaginated into the uterine body, rotated, and the tissue was slightly devitalized and congested. As previously described, this condition occurred during the immediate postpartum period. Thus, we suggest that this period can be a facilitator for the establishment of uterine intussusception.(AU)

A intussuscepção uterina é uma condição rara em cadelas. Portanto, este estudo tem por objetivo relatar um caso incomum de intussuscepção uterina prolapsada em fêmea canina. Uma cadela American Bully de dois anos de idade com histórico de parto de feto absoluto grande no qual necessitou de auxílio por tração manual foi apresentada. O animal exibiu um prolapso de mucosa através da vulva, contrações improdutivas e dores abdominais. Após a retração parcial do prolapso de mucosa, a cadela foi encaminhada para a ovário-histerectomia que teve por objetivo, também, corrigir a mucosa prolapsada. Durante o procedimento cirúrgico, foram verificados os cornos uterinos invaginados no corpo uterino, rotacionados, com o tecido levemente desvitalizado e congesto. Assim, como poucos casos encontrados na literatura, esta condição ocorreu durante o puerpério imediato. Dessa forma, sugere-se que este período, embora não seja um fator determinante para o estabelecimento da intussuscepção uterina, pode ser um facilitador no estabelecimento dessa condição.(AU)

Vaginal fold prolapse in a dog with pyometra and ovarian papillary cystadenocarcinoma.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 7-year-old 42-kg (92.4-lb) sexually intact nulliparous female Italian Mastiff was examined because of a history of vaginal prolapse during diestrus. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A physical examination revealed vaginal fold prolapse. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed an enlarged uterus with hypoechogenic content, corpora lutea in the ovaries, and a cyst in the right ovary. Hematologic abnormalities included leukocytosis, neutrophilia, mild anemia, and low Hct. Progesterone and estradiol concentrations were 9.36 ng/mL and 30.42 pg/mL, respectively, in serum and 72.72 ng/mL and 792 pg/mL, respectively, in the ovarian cystic fluid. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Ovariohysterectomy was performed; the prolapsed tissue was repositioned by external manipulation and maintained in situ by temporary apposition of the vulvar lips with a retention suture. Anatomic and histologic examinations of the excised tissues revealed pyometra and papillary cystadenocarcinoma in the right ovary. The vaginal hyperplasia completely regressed at 35 days after surgery; 5 months after surgery, the dog's general condition was considered good. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings in this case were indicative of a hormonally active ovarian papillary cystadenocarcinoma in a female dog in diestrus. Hormone production by the cystadenocarcinoma was the predisposing factor that induced pyometra, mucosal hyperplasia, and vaginal fold prolapse in the dog. On the basis of these concurrent disorders, ovariohysterectomy was an appropriate treatment.

Prolapso uterino em gata - Relato de caso / Uterine prolapse in a cat - A case report / Prolapso uterino en gata ­ Relato de caso

O prolapso uterino em cadelas e gatas é uma emergência reprodutiva na qual ocorre eversão de um ou ambos os cornos uterinos através da vagina, durante ou após o parto. Tal patologia não é frequente em gatas, por isso o presente relato tem o objetivo de descrever um caso de prolapso uterino em uma gata atendida no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal do Piauí. Na anamnese o proprietário se queixou de massa avermelhada na vulva após a expulsão de dois filhotes. Ao exame clínico, observou-se que a massa era o útero prolapsado. O animal foi encaminhado imediatamente ao centro cirúrgico para redução do útero prolapsado e realização de ovariosalpingohisterectomia (OSH). Após a OSH, o animal permaneceu internado durante 24 horas. Findo este período o animal teve alta e apresentou boa recuperação.

Uterine prolapse in dogs and cats is a reproductive emergency in which there is the protrusion of one or both uterine horns through the vagina during or after delivery. This condition is not common in cats, so this report aims to describe a case of uterine prolapse in a cat treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Piaui. Upon anamnesis, the owner complained of a reddish mass in the vulva after the expelling of two kittens. Clinical examination revealed that the mass was the prolapsed uterus. The animal was immediately sent to the operating room for reduction of the prolapsed uterus and an ovariosalpingohisterectomy (OSH) was performed. After OSH, the animal remained hospitalized for 24 hours. After this period, the animal was discharged and recovered well.

El prolapso uterino en perras y gatas es una emergencia reproductiva en la cual ocurre eversión de uno o ambos los cuernos uterinos a través de la vagina, durante o después del parto. Tal patología no es común en gatas, este informe tiene como objetivo describir un caso de prolapso uterino en una gata tratada en el Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad Federal de Piauí. En la anamnesis el propietario se quejó de una masa rojiza en la vulva después de la expulsión de dos gatitos. El examen clínico reveló que la masa era el prolapso de útero. El animal fue enviado de inmediato al centro quirúrgico para reducción del prolapso de útero y realización de ovariosalpinghisterectomía (OSH). Después de realizada la OSH, el animal permaneció hospitalizado durante 24 horas. Después de este período, el animal fue dado de alta y se recuperó bien.

Uterine Leiomyoma and Prolapse in a Live-stranded Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis).

A uterine prolapse associated with a leiomyoma (fibroid) was observed in a live-stranded Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). A 7 cm segment of the reproductive tract including the cervix, uterine neck and caudal uterine body had intussuscepted and prolapsed into the cranial vaginal vault. In the leading edge of the intussuscepted/prolapsed uterine wall was a 6 × 3 × 3.5 cm leiomyoma expanding the myometrium. The leiomyoma and prolapse were associated with necrotizing exposure endometritis. This is the first report of a uterine prolapse associated with a leiomyoma in a cetacean. This lesion was believed to be the underlying cause of the live stranding.

Cistopexia videoassistida em cadela com cistocele após prolapso uterino: relato de caso / Videoassisted cystopexy on a female dog with cystocele after uterine prolapse: a case report

O prolapso de vesícula urinária associado ao prolapso uterino é condição rara em cães e gatos. O tratamento preconizado para essa afecção é o reposicionamento anatômico das estruturas afetadas. No presente relato é descrito o manejo por meio de ovariossalpingo-histerectomia por celiotomia e, após dois dias, cistopexia videoassistida. Essa condição, conforme o conhecimento dos autores, não havia sido previamente descrita. A operação apresentou-se como possibilidade viável de tratamento, sem complicações pós-operatórias.(AU)

The urinary bladder prolapse associated with the uterus is a rare condition on dogs and cats. The recommended treatment is the anatomical repositioning of the affected structures by manual reduction or surgery procedure. The present report describes the management by video-assisted cystopexy two days after conventional ovariohysterectomy. This condition, according to the authors' knowledge, had not been previously described. The operation didn't showed postoperative complications, and presented itself as a viable treatment option.(AU)

Complete uterine prolapse without uterine mucosal eversion in a queen.

A five-year-old female cat weighing 3 kg was presented by the owner after noticing a large pink, bilobed mass protruding through the vulva during labour. The cat was in good condition, with appropriate lactation, and the newborn kittens were nursing normally. The uterus was not reverted or invaginated at examination, and there was rupture of the mesovarium, mesometrium and uterine-vaginal connection around the cervix. Manual reduction of the prolapsed uterus was not possible because of torn ligaments. A coeliotomy was performed to remove the ovaries, and the apex of the uterine horns was passed by the vaginal route. The remaining part of the mesometrium was disconnected, and the prolapsed uterus was removed. The queen and kittens were discharged from the hospital on the second day after surgery. An unusual feature of this case is that the prolapse was complete, without eversion of any part of the uterus through a vaginal tear.

Prolapso vaginal e uterino em ovelhas / Uterine and vaginal prolapse in ewes

O presente trabalho objetivou realizar um estudo retrospectivo sobre os prolapsos vaginal e uterino em ovelhas atendidas no Serviço de Clínica de Bovinos e Pequenos Ruminantes (CBPR) da FMVZ/USP no período compreendido entre 2000 a 2010, no qual, foram atendidas 56 ovinos com problemas inerentes ao sistema reprodutivo, dessas, 25 apresentaram prolapso vaginal ou uterino (44,6%). O prolapso vaginal total foi o de maior frequência (72%). As ovelhas acometidas, em sua maioria, possuíam idade superior a quatro anos (64%), eram sem raça definida (44%) ou da raça Ile de France (40%). As manifestações clínicas observadas durante a maioria dos atendimentos foram: taquipnéia, taquicardia, mucosas oculares avermelhadas indicando estado de toxemia, decúbito esternal ou lateral, apatia e anorexia. O tratamento instituído para todos os casos foi a limpeza, desinfecção e reintrodução do órgão prolapsado. A sutura de Bühner foi feita em 84% dos casos e a histeropexia em um caso (4%). A evolução foi satisfatória em 80% dos casos atendidos, nos demais casos (20%) observou-se óbito da fêmea acometida. Do total de óbitos, os prolapsos vaginais foram responsáveis por 60% (3/5) e os prolapsos uterinos por 40% (2/5). A etiologia dos prolapsos não foi definida nos casos atendidos, sendo esses associados com o período pós-parto em sua maioria (56%), provavelmente associados com quadros de hipocalcemia, altas concentrações séricas de estrógeno e hipertonia uterina. Além disso, a predisposição genética não pode ser descartada.

This study aimed to conduct a retrospective study on vaginal and uterine prolapse in sheep seen at the Clinic and Surgery on Cattle and Small Ruminants (CBPR) at University of São Paulo, from 2000 to 2010. During this period, 56 sheep were treated with problems of the reproductive system. Of these, 25 ewes had vaginal or uterine prolapse (44.6%). The total vaginal prolapse was the most frequently (72%). The majority of sheep that was affected were 4 years old (64%); most were mixed breed (44%) and 40% were Ile de France. Main clinical signs were increased cardiac and respiratory rates, congested ocular mucosa, sternal or lateral recumbence, apathy and anorexia, suggesting toxemia. The treatment of all cases was the cleaning and disinfection of the prolapsed organ and its reintroduction. The Bühner suture was made in 84% of the cases. The uterus fixation was made in one case (4%). Recovered was observed in 80% of the cases and 20% of the patients died. Vaginal prolapse corresponded to 60% of the deaths and uterine prolapse to 40%. The etiology of the prolapses had not been defined, but most cases (56%) occurred during the postpartum period, probably associated with hypocalcaemia, high serum concentrations of estrogen or uterine hypertonia. Furthermore, a genetic predisposition on affected sheep cannot be discharged.

Anesthesia and perioperative management of a pneumonectomized dog.

Although left- or right-sided pneumonectomy is tolerated by normal dogs, complications impacting the respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems are not uncommon. Pneumonectomy in dogs results in secondary changes in the remaining lung, which include: decreased compliance and vital capacity; and increased pulmonary vascular resistance potentially leading to right ventricular hypertrophy. Such alterations make the anesthetic management of an animal with one lung particularly challenging. This report describes a dog with a history of left pneumonectomy due to Aspergillus fumigatus pneumonia 3 yr before presentation. The dog presented with a vaginal wall prolapse, and surgical resection of the protruding vaginal wall, ovariectomy, and prophylactic gastropexy were performed. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol and was maintained with isoflurane using intermittent positive pressure ventilation and a constant rate infusion of fentanyl. Epidural anesthesia was also used. Recovery and postoperative management were uncomplicated. Intensive hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring and appropriate response and treatment of any detected abnormalities, taking into consideration the pathophysiologic alterations occurring in a pneumonectomized animal, are required for successful perianesthetic management.

Histological, hormonal and biomolecular analysis of the pathogenesis of ovine Prolapsus vaginae ante partum.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the hormonal profiles, histology of the vagina and biomolecular analysis of connective tissue of ewes with and without vaginal prolapse. Blood samples from the jugular vein and biopsies of the vaginal tissue were taken from five late term pregnant, unaffected animals, four sheep during parturition and six ewes suffering from vaginal prolapse ante partum. The blood samples were submitted for determining the concentration of the steroid hormones progesterone by automatic luminescence immunoassay and estradiol-17ß by the sequence test. Investigations in the mRNA-expression including the estimation of the transcript levels of the α(2)-chain of collagen I, the collagenolytic metalloproteinase 1 (MMP 1), the tissue inhibitor of MMP 1 (TIMP 1) and the estrogen receptor α were carried out by using semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Additionally, the histology of the vaginal wall of ewes with and without vaginal prolapse and animals intra partum was assessed. Because of a right-skewed distribution, data were logarithmised and described using the geometric mean (xg) and the dispersion factor (DF). The average progesterone concentration of affected ewes (xg = 19.35 ng/ml, DF 1.33) was above those of control animals ante (xg = 10.44 ng/ml, DF 1.58) and intra partum (xg = 9.24 ng/ml, DF 1.92). Compared to the pregnant control group (xg = 20.13 pg/ml, DF 1.49) the plasma levels of 17ß-estradiol in animals suffering from ante partum vaginal prolapse (xg = 27.81 pg/ml, DF 1.56) appeared to be slightly increased, but the difference was without statistical significance. The analysis of mRNA expression revealed a difference in the ante partum collagen metabolism in affected sheep. In prolapsed tissue the α2-chain of collagen I showed a decreased expression level in relation to the control animals in late-term pregnancy (P < 0.01). The average mRNA synthesis of MMP 1 or TIMP 1 in affected ewes was higher or lower, respectively, than the synthesis in healthy, late-term pregnant sheep. Significant differences were not observed. The production of transcripts of the estrogen receptor α was significantly decreased within the group of affected sheep compared to the unaffected pregnant ewes. Histological assessment showed that oedema was only detected in the subepithelial zone of the vaginal wall of intra partum sheep. There was no evidence for an inflammation of the prolapsed vaginal tissue since infiltration of leucocytes was present in all samples equally. The thickest vaginal epithelium due to hyperplasia of the epithelial cells was observed in sheep suffering from ante partum vaginal prolapse (xg = 83.95 µm, DF 1.21). This difference was statistically significant between the ante (xg = 31.12 µm, DF 1.22) and intra partum groups (xg = 33.27 µm, DF 1.24). Peripheral concentrations of progesterone and estradiol-17ß seem to have no influence on the occurrence of vaginal prolapse in ewes. Regarding histology of the vaginal wall in combination with the expression of local estrogen receptors, it was determined that there is neither a pronounced oedema nor an overexpression of the estrogen receptor α in affected animals, which means that no local estrogenic effect provokes the prolapse of vaginal tissue. The biomolecular analysis led to the new result, that ewes suffering from vaginal prolapse show alterations in the antepartal metabolism of vaginal connective tissue.

Vaginal rupture and evisceration in a dog.

A 1.5-year-old German Shepherd mixed breed dog was admitted with mild haemorrhage from the vulva and a perineal mass of 24-hour duration, which had been first observed immediately after parturition. Parturition had occurred at low ambient temperature, and only one puppy survived out of the seven oversized fetuses. The dog was in poor body condition, dehydrated, hypothermic, depressed, non-ambulatory and in a state of shock. Intestinal loops, the urinary bladder and the uterine horns and body were protruding from the vulva. A true vaginal prolapse was also observed. The abdominal viscera were flushed with warm sterile saline solution, protected and maintained wet. The laboratory findings included moderate anaemia, leukocytosis, hypoalbuminaemia, azotaemia and elevated liver enzyme activities. Stabilisation of the dog's general condition was attempted before surgery. Antimicrobial and analgesic drugs were also administered. After exploratory laparotomy the protruding organs, which were in good condition, were reduced. A recent rupture in the vaginal wall, approximately 6 cm long, was observed. Ovariohysterectomy and partial vaginectomy were performed. The preoperative course of therapy was continued, but the bitch died 12 hours later. The probable cause of vaginal rupture and evisceration in this bitch was tenesmus and/or trauma due to the oversized fetuses.

First report of vaginal prolapse in a bitch treated with oestrogen.

Vaginal prolapse is the protrusion of edematous vaginal tissue into and through the opening of the vulva occurring during the pro-oestrus and oestrus stages of the sexual cycle. True vaginal prolapse may occur near parturition, as the concentration of serum progesterone declines and the concentration of serum oestrogen increases. In a bitch, true vaginal prolapse is a very rare condition. This case report describes an 18-month-old crossbreed bitch, weighing 40 kg presented with type III vaginal prolapse. The patient had developed vaginal prolapse after receiving oestrogen in order to oestrus induction. Subsequent to unsuccessful attempts for repositioning, ovariohysterectomy (OHE), circumferential excision of the prolapsed tissue and finally vulvoplasty were performed. There was no evidence of recurrence of the prolapse during 30 days after surgery. This case report describes type III vaginal prolapse as an unusual side effect of oestrus induction hormonal therapy in the bitch.

New surgical technique to correct urovagina improves the fertility of dairy cows.

Several surgical techniques have been proposed for the treatment of urovagina as a major cause of infertility in cows. However, so far no technique seems to be successful in all cases. Given that an incompetent or damaged constrictor vestibuli muscle is a feature of cows with urovagina, we hypothesized that surgical correction of urovagina by cerclage of the vestibulovaginal junction under the vaginal wall cranial to the urethral opening would prevent cranial flow of urine and improve fertility. Our study was performed on 39 non-pregnant lactating Holstein-Friesian cows suffering urovagina, with a vaginal content of urine exceeding 100mL and with evident incompetence of the constrictor vestibuli muscle. Cows were randomly assigned to a Control (untreated cows, n=20) or Experimental (n=19) group. An encircling polydioxanone suture was placed in the vaginal wall at the vestibulovaginal junction to create a vestibulovaginal cerclage in the Experimental cows. Surgery was observed to resolve urovagina in 17 (89.5%) of the 19 treated cows. Pregnancy was recorded in 7/20 (35%) and 14/19 (74%) cows in the Control and Experimental groups, respectively. Using logistic regression procedures and based on the odds ratio, we determined that cows undergoing surgical correction of urovagina were 5.2 times more likely to become pregnant than untreated cows (P=0.015). Our results suggest that vestibulovaginal junction cerclage prevents the cranial flow of urine and improves the function of the constrictor vestibuli muscle in cows suffering urovagina. They also indicate that, under these conditions, urovagina correction may dramatically increase fertility.

Anovulvar cleft and vaginal prolapse-hyperplasia in a bitch.

This report presents the case of a nine-month-old bitch with incomplete occlusion of the skin and mucosa between the anus and dorsal commissure of the vulva. This anomaly, known as anovulvar cleft, was associated with a vaginal prolapse-hyperplasia. Anovulvar cleft is a rare condition in bitches and is caused by incomplete closure of the dorsal urogenital folds. Anovulvar cleft can lead to clitoritis, abrasion, dryness and devitalisation of the smooth exposed mucosa. Surgery can correct the condition. In the present study, surgical resection of the hyperplasic vaginal tissue associated with perineoplasty using an inverted V-shaped incision showed excellent results. An ovariohysterectomy was also performed to prevent recurrence of the vaginal prolapse-hyperplasia.

Lymphangiosarcoma in a 3.5-year-old Bullmastiff bitch with vaginal prolapse, primary lymph node fibrosis and other congenital defects.

Lymphangiosarcoma is an extremely rare tumour in dogs with only 16 cases reported in the literature. Lymphoedema, which may be primary due to defects in the lymphatic system, or secondary to various other pathologies, often precedes malignancy. Of the 16 canine reports, only 1 dog was confirmed as having had prior primary lymphoedema due to aplasia of the popliteal lymph nodes. A case of lymphangiosarcoma is described in a 3.5-year-old purebred, Bullmastiff bitch which presented with vaginal blood 'spotting' for 3 weeks after cessation of oestrus, during which intromission by the male had been unsuccessful. During ovariohysterectomy a large multicystic, proliferative, spongy, fluid-filled, brownish-red mass surrounding the cervix and projecting into the abdominal space was removed with the cervix, and a diagnosis of lymphangiosarcoma made on histological and electron microscopic examination of the tissue. Ultrastructurally, no basement membrane or pericytes were found, only some of the neoplastic endothelial cells were linked by tight junctions while there were gaps between others, and neither micropinocytotic vesicles nor Weibel-Palade bodies occurred in the cells examined. Very few of the endothelial cells lining the many interlinking, tortuous maze of channels, stained slightly positive immunohistochemically for factor VIII-related antigen. The channels were filled mostly with serous fluid, and occasionally mixed leucocytes and some erythrocytes. The endothelium was often associated with underlying blocks of collagenous material, as well as loosely-arranged aggregates of lymphocytes, other mononuclear cells and occasional neutrophils in the connective tissue septae and more prominently perivascularly. The bitch was discharged on antibiotic treatment but returned 2 weeks later with apparent prolapsed vagina which failed to reduce over the next week. Laparotomy revealed the tumour to have spread extensively in the caudal abdomen to involve the broad ligament and the ventral rectal serosa, and the 'prolapsed' tissue was found to be expanded vaginal wall. The bitch was euthanased and necropsied, Histological examination confirmed lymphangiosarcomatous invasion of the submucosal and muscular layers of the retroperitoneal, traumatised, prolapsed part of the vagina, the urethra and the ventral rectal wall. The broad ligament was diffusely invaded with tumour which had proliferated into the caudal abdominal space, and 3 small intra-trabecular foci of tumour were found in the right popliteal lymph node near the hilus. Mitotic figures were generally scarce. There was mild subcutaneous oedema of the ventral trunk extending from the axillae to the inner proximal thighs, which had not been evident clinically, and the lymph nodes (peripheral more so than internal) microscopically showed marked trabecular and perivascular fibrosis especially in hilar regions. Other congenital defects were hepatic capsular and central venous fibrosis with lymphatic duplication and dilatation in all areas of connective tissue, ventrally-incongruous half-circular tracheal rings, and multifocal renal dysplasia affecting the right kidney. There was locally-extensive subacute pyelonephritis of the left kidney.