RESUMO
Genital tumours are rare among cattle, largely due to their relatively short lifespans. Leio-myoma, a smooth muscle tumour being more prevalent in dogs, appears only at a rate of 1.00 - 2.00% in cattle, affecting reproductive efficiency in cases of complete uterine obstruction. This case report involves an 8-year-old cow with repeated insemination attempts unveiled 5.00 cm intra-luminal uterine mass, obstructing the right uterine horn. Transrectal sonography (TRUS) revealed a highly vascularized mass with normal ovarian function. Confirmation of clinical condition, i.e., uterine leiomyoma, via uterine biopsy concluded the presence of neoplastic smooth muscle cells arranged in interlacing bundles showing mild pleomorphism, and special staining using Masson's trichrome revealed an unappreciable amount of connective tissue; subsequently right flank celiotomy was performed to remove the benign tumour. Forty-five days after celiotomy, TRUS examination confirmed an unobstructed uterine horn, and bilateral oviduct patency was adjudged with 2.50% methylene blue. Following treatment for chronic endometritis, artificial insemination led to conception nearly 90 days post-procedure. The TRUS aids preliminary diagnosis, while definitive identification demands necropsy and surgical methods. This case underscores the diagnostic significance of TRUS, histopathology and celiotomy for identifying and managing uterine leiomyoma in cattle.
RESUMO
This study was carried out to investigate the possible presence of identical sperm and bacterial antigens which may cause similar antisperm antibody production leading to lower fertility. Cross-reactive antigens of cattle bull spermatozoa and different bacteria including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Bacillus sp., and Staphylococcus sp. were characterized by immunoblotting and mass fingerprinting. Significant cross-reactivity was obtained for 75, 72, 44, 40, 33, 30, 25, 18, 14 kDa proteins with purified IgG of calves, heifers and cows between spermatozoa and the studied bacteria. Significantly (p < 0.05) matched cross-reactive 40/33/30 kDa sperm, 33 kDa Staphylococcus sp/Bacillus sp and 40/25 kDa E. coli proteins were analyzed. Mass fingerprinting of 40/33/30 kDa (spermatozoa); 40/25 kDa (E. coli) and 33 kDa (Bacillus/Staphylococcus) proteins revealed their matching with vitellogenin-1-like/mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase 2, NAD/acrosin-binding protein isoform XI; outer membrane insertion signal domain/spore coat protein and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, respectively. Acrosin-binding protein isoform X1 and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase 2, NAD contributes to the capacitation of spermatozoa. Spore coat protein; glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of E. coli; Bacillus/Staphylococcus are 37.6% and 39.01% identical to acrosin-binding protein isoform X1; mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase 2, NAD of cattle bull spermatozoa. It can be interpreted from these observations that cross-reacting antibodies developed against 33/30 kDa sperm proteins and 25, 33 kDa bacterial proteins in cows may affect the functional activity of spermatozoa leading to delayed fertility in heifers and cows.
