Laparoscopic gonadectomy in dogs with ovotesticular disorder of sexual development.

Disorders of sexual development (DSD) in dogs involve most commonly an XX sex reversal syndrome, treated conventionally by gonadohysterectomy. The objective of the present case series is to describe the surgical treatment and long-term follow-up of dogs undergoing laparoscopic gonadectomy without hysterectomy for treatment of ovotesticular DSD. Six female dogs clinically diagnosed with DSD were retrospectively included in the study when laparoscopic gonadectomy was performed and histology confirmed the presence of abnormal gonads. The dogs were evaluated by ultrasound after 6 months, and owners were contacted by phone for the long-term reevaluation. Laparoscopic gonadectomy was performed using 2- or 3-portal midline techniques with 3- and/or 5-mm instruments. Additional procedures were performed in 5 dogs, including os clitoris removal in 4 dogs and vulvoplasty in 1 dog. Histological analysis of the gonads reported 11 ovotestes and 1 testis. No major or minor complications occurred perioperatively. Ultrasonographic reevaluation was performed in 5/6 dogs and the remaining abdominal genital system was considered normal. Median long-term follow-up was 617 days (range, 265-1597) with none of the dogs having any symptom related to DSD. Therefore, laparoscopic gonadectomy is a valid alternative for dogs with ovotesticular DSD and is less invasive than conventional open techniques. Removal of the gonads avoids future development of hormone-related diseases of the remaining genital tract.

A comprehensive study of disorder of sex development in Staffordshire bull terrier dog.

An 8-month-old female Staffordshire bull terrier was clinically examined because of external sexual organs abnormality-clitoral hypertrophy. As stated by the owner, the female dog had not been in heat yet. Serum profile of testosterone (3.39 ng/ml), as well as an anti-Mullerian hormone (24.0 ng/ml), suggested the presence of testicular tissue. On the contrary, the estimated level of 17ß-oestradiol (24.6 pg/ml) was approximately two times higher when compared with the normal anoestrus values (5-10 pg/ml). A midline laparotomy was performed to detect the cranial parts of the genital system. Gonads resembling testicle or ovotestis (left) and hypoplastic testicle (right) was visible. Cranial portion of gonads was attached to structures indicative of bilateral epididymidis. The next tubular structures-oviducts were resected along with adherent parts of a hypoplastic uterus. Histological evaluation confirmed that the examined gonad samples were testicles with modified interstitial testicular tissue. Hypertrophy of interstitial space was predominantly formed by Leydig cells. Examination of a cross-section through the head of suspected epididymidis confirmed their characteristic structures. In addition, the characteristic configuration of the oviducts was presented. The uterus consisted of three walls, in which the endometrium was hypoplastic with the presence of endometrial glands. No Y chromosome was detected by chromosomal analysis using CFA Y probe and the amplification of SRY-gene coding region (813 bp) indicated genotype 78, XX; SRY-negative. Sequencing of SOX9 gene exons 1-3 did not reveal any differences in exon 1 and 3. On the contrary, a few changes were determined in the SOX9 exon 2 sequences: G instead of A at position 103; C instead of reference T at position 115; GCG instead of reference CGC at position 138-140; T instead of reference C at positions 161, 164 and 167.