PROGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF CANINE PYOMETRA BASED ON SERUM PROSTAGLANDIN METABOLITE CONCENTRATION AND HAEMATOLOGICAL CHANGES
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Date
2019
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College of Veterinary and animal Science,Mannuthy
Abstract
A study was undertaken for prognostic evaluation of canine pyometra, based
on serum prostaglandin metabolite (PGFM) concentration and haemato-biochemical
changes. Female dogs presented to University Veterinary Hospitals, Kokkalai and
Mannuthy, with history and clinical signs suggestive of pyometra were utilised for
the study. Sixteen dogs were selected after detailed clinico-gynaecological and
sonographical examination for confirmation of pyometra and treated with
mifepristone @ 3.5 mg/kg body weight bid for five days and cabergoline @ 5g/kg
body weight once daily orally for five days, along with supportive fluid and antibiotic
therapy. Detailed clinical, haemato-biochemical, hormonal and sonographic studies
were conducted on day 0, 3, 7 and 14 of treatment. Six apparently healthy dogs in
diestrus were selected as control group and same combination of mifepristone and
cabergoline was administered to all dogs. Clinical, haemato-biochemical and
hormonal studies were conducted on day 0 and 14.
Among the dogs selected for study, proportion of nulliparous dogs and those
belonging to the age group of six years and above were 56 per cent each; all dogs
were in the luteal phase of oestrous cycle. The symptoms and clinical signs exhibited
by the pyometra affected dogs were suggestive of the systemic involvement of the
disease, more prominent being anorexia, dullness, vaginal discharge, vomiting,
polyuria and dehydration. Of the total pyometra cases, 25 per cent were closed-cervix
type.
Physiological parameters were not altered due to pyometra. B-mode
ultrasonography revealed enlarged uterus, filled with fluids of varying consistency,
ranging from anechoic to hyper-echoic; significant reduction in uterine horn diameter
(36.60 ± 3.20 to 12.20 ± 1.40 mm) and uterine wall thickness (6.00 ± 0.44 to 3.98 ±
0.23 mm) during the course of treatment was recorded among pyometra affected
dogs. Uterine contents were present in all the cases on the day of admission; complete
uterine content evacuation was achieved by day 14 in 87.50 per cent of treated dogs.
Majority of bacteria (76.00 per cent) isolated from the anterior vaginal swab of
pyometra affected dogs was Gram negative bacteria, sensitive to gentamicin and
resistant to cefotaxime.
Haematology recorded anaemia (TEC, Hb, VPRC values were 4.09 ±
0.28×106
/mm3
, 9.89 ± 0.66 g/dL and 25.43 ± 1.66 %), leucocytosis (36.46 ±
4.51×103
/mm3
) with neutrophilia (76.64 ± 1.95 %) and increased band cell per cent
(5.38 ± 0.75 %) in dogs with pyometra. The BUN and creatinine values as well as
platelet counts were found to be within normal range. Serum PGFM concentration in
pyometra affected dogs was not significantly different from control animals, either
before (35.52 ± 6.79 vs 19.41 ± 3.62 pg/mL) or after treatment (22.62 ± 3.52 vs 21.89
± 3.83 pg/mL). Serum progesterone concentration was indicative of dioestrus in all
dogs, irrespective of groups and didn’t vary significantly between pyometric and
normal, dioestrous dogs (25.13 ± 3.47 vs 22.27 ± 3.59 ng/mL). After treatment, the
values significantly reduced in both the groups (7.95±1.04 vs 8.21±1.20 ng/mL).
Mean duration required for initiation and completion of uterine evacuation, clinical
recovery and duration of treatment were 2.60 ± 0.22, 12.30 ± 0.95, 12.60 ± 0.96 and
19.60 ± 1.25 days, respectively. Cystic structures in the ovary as well as permanent
damage in the endometrium were noticed after OHE, among the dogs which were
refractory to medical treatment (12.5%). Oophoritis, caused by leakage of uterine
contents into ovarian bursa was also recorded in the study. Recurrence was recorded
among 25 per cent of medically treated cases, during the period of surveillance of six
months.
Changes in TLC, band cell per cent, lymphocyte per cent, thrombocyte count,
TEC, Hb and VPRC could be useful diagnostic or prognostic markers in canine
pyometra. Feasibility of serum PGFM measurement as a tool for diagnostic and
prognostic evaluation of canine pyometra needs further studies involving more
number of dogs.