Schistosomus reflexus-like malformation in a southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).

A 7.5-yr-old female southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) aborted spontaneously at approximately 13 mo gestation. The fetus exhibited malformations consistent with schistosomus reflexus syndrome, including spinal inversion and ventral midline abdominal defect with externalization of abdominal viscera. A computed tomography was performed and revealed severe scoliosis, a spiral rotation of the spine, multiple vertebral anomalies, hypoplasia of multiple bones of the skull, and mild prognathism. This is the first report of schistosomus reflexus-like syndrome in a nondomestic species, and the first report to characterize these skeletal changes by three-dimensional computed tomography.

Subcutaneous herniation of fetuses after blunt force trauma in a cat.

CASE SUMMARY: A stray female domestic shorthair cat was presented to the emergency service after being hit by a car. The patient was recumbent and vocalizing, with a small wound over the right lateral thorax, and two palpably firm swellings in the right cervical and thoracic soft tissues. The patient was sedated and humanely euthanized to prevent further pain and suffering. Post-mortem whole-body radiographs and subsequent necropsy revealed abdominal wall rupture with herniation of two near-term fetuses within the subcutaneous tissues along the right ventrolateral thoracic wall and neck. Within the abdomen, the right uterine horn was ruptured and a third extra-luminal fetus was identified. The left uterine horn remained intact, containing a fourth fetus. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: Rupture of the abdominal wall or diaphragm are well-known potential complications of blunt force trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents. While traumatic uterine rupture and diaphragmatic herniation of the gravid uterus have both been reported in the veterinary literature, abdominal wall rupture with subcutaneous fetal herniation is highly uncommon.