Physiological pregnancy in a tiger affected by endometritis and benign mesenchymal neoplasm.

In large felids, uncomplicated endometritis and benign mesenchymal uterine tumours usually represent post-mortem findings. These pathologies generally remain clinically asymptomatic, and their impact on reproductive outcome and maternal care is unknown. A 13-year-old female tiger (Panthera tigris) was evaluated by a team of veterinarians from the University of Padova for abnormal behaviour after parturition. The animal spontaneously gave birth to a healthy male cub of 1.460 kg, but after three hours of normal parental care, she showed careless about the cub, occasional abdominal contractions, excessive self-licking and restlessness. After 10 hours of continuous observation, the tiger was anaesthetised for a complete clinical evaluation. The physical examination was unremarkable, but a vaginal bloody/mucous discharge with no obstruction of the birth canal was noted. Abdominal ultrasound revealed an enlarged left uterine horn with heterogeneous echogenicity. Blood analysis showed moderate neutrophilia and leucocytosis. Differential diagnoses included placental retention, uterine inflammation/infection, neoplasia. The tiger was transferred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital where the explorative laparotomy and the ovario-hysterectomy were performed. The uterine horns appeared asymmetric and two nodular lesions of 1.5-cm-diameter were observed on the left horn. Histological assessment indicated the presence of a multifocal, subacute, moderate neutrophilic endometritis in both horns associated with diffuse, severe oedema. The nodules were consistent with a mesenchymal benign neoplasia. No relevant complication was observed in the following postoperative period and the cub was successfully hand raised. To the best of our knowledge, no report describes the birth of a healthy cub from a tiger affected by endometritis and neoplasia. Considering the normal maternal care observed in the previous twin-pregnancies in this animal, we cannot exclude that the uterine affection caused her abnormal behaviour in this case. Therefore, careful observation of the mother in the post-partum period is always strongly recommended

Ichthyosis in two Chianina Calves

Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2006 Sep;113(9):351-4

Oestrogen and progesterone receptor expression in subtypes of canine mammary tumours in intact and ovariectomised dogs.

The objective of this study was to investigate as a potential prognostic indicator the relationship between histological subtype of canine mammary tumours (CMTs) and oestrogen-α (ORα) and progesterone (PR) receptor expression. Using immunohistochemistry, receptor expression in neoplastic epithelial cells was assessed in 12 different subtypes in 113 CMTs (34 benign, 79 malignant) and 101 surrounding normal tissues. Sixty-eight and 45 CMTs were from intact and ovariectomised bitches, respectively. Histological subtype strongly influenced ORα/PR expression: simple and complex adenomas as well as simple tubular carcinomas exhibited the greatest expression, whereas immunohistochemical labelling for these receptors was weakest in carcinoma and malignant myoepitheliomas, as well as in solid/anaplastic carcinomas and comedocarcinomas. Receptor expression was generally higher in benign relative to malignant neoplasms, and in the latter it was significantly lower in ovariectomised vs. intact bitches. Lymphatic invasion, mitotic index, nodule diameter, and tumour grade were significantly associated with ORα/PR expression. Although not found to be an independent prognostic indicator, tumours from dogs with <10% cells with ORα/PR expression had a poorer prognosis. Lymphatic invasion, the state of the margins of excision, and mitotic index were found to be independent prognostic indicators. Overall, the results suggest that differences in histological subtype and whether or not a bitch has been ovariectomised should be considered when evaluating the significance of ORα and PR expression in CMTs