| Abstrakt: |
Background: Congenital uterine malformations are rarely identified in domestic and human animals and are related to problems during the embryonic formation of the paramesonephric ducts. Cases of agenesis and segmental aplasia or unicorn uterus have been described in bitches, but there are no reports of total uterine aplasia in this specie. The report of a case of total uterine aplasia and segmental atrophy of the cranial vagina, accidentally diagnosed is reported herein. Case: An adult female bitch without defined breed in bad general condition was attended in the emergency service in a Veterinary Hospital. During anamnesis the information was restricted because it was an errant animal rescued for the consultation, but accompanied for at least 12 months in the environment in which it lived. Data related to the estrous cycle were unknown, but no gestation was observed in the last year. Investigations detected anemia and intense thrombocytopenia, azotemia and increased alanine aminotransferase. Two days later, with no progression, images suggestive of hemometra/mucometra were observed during abdominal ultrasonography, and the patient underwent emergency ovariohysterectomy despite the general poor condition. Before the procedure the uterus was not routinely identified, but a fibromuscular, nontubular and thin structure occupied the region corresponding to the horns and uterine body, thickening in the cervix region. Death four days after surgery and sent to necropsy. During necropsy it was observed that the vulva and the vestibule of the vagina did not present macroscopic alterations, however there was a marked digitiform narrowing of the cranial region of the vagina, which ended in blind bottom. The mucosa in this narrowing was smooth, without folds. The microscopic structure of the ovaries, uterine tubes and caudal vagina were preserved. In the ovaries it was observed some follicles in different stages of development and corpora lutea, indicating that the animal had already manifested cyclic activity. In the region that corresponded to the horns and uterine body, there was a predominance of blood vessels and abundant connective tissue with sparse bundles of smooth muscle cells arranged circularly, and the mucosa was not observed. In the digitiform region, the muscular layers had decreased volume of smooth muscle cells, rounded cell nuclei and scarce cytoplasm (atrophy), with increased space between muscle fibers. Discussion: Disturbances of uterine malformations are rarely identified in several species and may result in infertility. Other malformations may be present, such as renal and ovarian agenesis. The cause is still unclear, but they are possibly hereditary conditions for recessive genes, identified in different species as humans, and in cattle that may be related to inbreeding, a condition responsible for a higher frequency of expression of undesirable hereditary defects, but not correlated in bitches by the low occurrence. Therefore, the affection in different mammals, besides the clinical and reproductive relevance of the malformation in certain cases, emphasizes the importance of the genetic research of the etiology in bitches and other species so that it can be clarified and avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
