HEMATOCOLPUS IN TWO BITCHES WITH A HISTORY OF GNRH TREATMENT TO POSTPONE PUBERTY

HEMATOCOLPUS IN TWO BITCHES WITH A HISTORY OF GNRH TREATMENT TO POSTPONE PUBERTY Marino G, Rizzo S, Quartuccio M, Ajello A, Cristarella S, Zanghì A. Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina. Aim: To report a rare case of hematocolpus in two bitches following a contraceptive treatment. M&M: Two mixed breed bitches (18 months), 1 year before treated with deslorelin acetateto postpone puberty, were admitted for the suspicion of a heat, despite the absence of vulvar bloody discharge. The animals were hospitalized and undergone to various diagnostic procedures, including physical genital tract examination, vaginoscopy, vaginal cytology, endocrine assay, ultrasound and X ray using vaginal infusion of iodum and pneumo bladder as positive and negative contrasts. Both animals were submitted to exploratory laparotomy followed by removal of the genital tract. Specimens were bacteriologically, cytologically and pathologically processed. Results: In bitch 1, vaginal cytology and progesterone levels confirmed the presence of an ovulatory “dry” oestrus. Ultrasound showed preovulatory follicles and, in the following days, transition to corpora lutea. The caudal abdomen presented a large ovoid cystic structure filled with echogenic fluid, next to the bladder. Radiographic scans demonstrated a normal bladder profile, while the iodum failed to enter into the cranial vagina. At laparotomy, a vaginal sac (10x5 cm), from which brown fluid was aspirated, was found and resected together with uterus and ovaries. There was no communication between the sac and the remaining vaginal tract. Bitch 2 had the same diagnostic route and findings, but was laparotomized 3 months after the heat. During this period no spontaneous regression of the lesion was observed. At laparotomy, the vaginal sac (8x4 cm) was only aspirated and the bitch was regularly neutered. In both cases, cytology of the fluid, aspirated from the vaginal sac, revealed mucosal superficial epithelial cells and abundant degenerate red blood cells. Bacteriology was negative. Histology (bitch 1) confirmed the vaginal origin of the sac despite its immature appearance, and revealed a Gärtner’s duct cyst. Conclusion: Bitches were cycling but showed an atypical “dry heat”. The impressive vaginal distension (hematocolpus) probably originated by an inadequate drainage of proestrous bloody discharge for a vaginal abnormality [2-3]. It is unlikely a congenital origin of the lesion, since vaginal abnormalities areuncommon and bitches were not relative. It is likely that the GnRH agonist treatment of the prepubertal bitches interfered, by an irreversible way, with the normal development of the vaginal tract, which in some traits maintained the prepubertal characteristics and an incompetent lumen. On the other hand, Gärtner’s duct cysts are rare lesions in the bitch associated with disorders of development of the vaginal tract [1]. References: 1. McIntyre RL, Levy JK, Roberts JF, Reep RL: Developmental uterine anomalies in cats and dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 237: 542-546, 2010 2. Viehoff FW, Sjollema BE: Hydrocolpos in dogs: Surgical treatment in two cases. J Small AnimPract 44:404-407, 2003. 3. Gee BR, Pharr JW, Furneaux RW: Segmental aplasia of the Müllerian duct system in a dog. Can Vet J 18:281-286, 1977.