Clinico-haemato-biochemical and Pathological Alteration of Pyometra in Canines

Abstract

Background: Pyometra is a pathological state of the compromised uterus of grown-up to old, diestrum bitches. Pyometra is easy to identify but can be more challenging when there is no vaginal discharge. In the present study, an attempt was made to find out the pathogen involvement and clinico-haemato-biochemical alteration in bitches affected with Pyometra. Methods: Twelve bitches with a history of inappetence, polydipsia, dirty vaginal discharge, occasional vomition irrespective of breeds and age groups were clinically examined and diagnosed as pyometra. The presumptive clinical diagnosis was based on case history, clinical signs, vaginal cytology, abdominal ultrasonography or radiography, gross examination of a pus-filled uterus after the ovariohysterectomy. Result: Vaginal examination revealed brown chocolate malodorous vaginal discharge with discolouration of the perivulval tissue. Abdominal ultrasound showed hyperplasia with echogenic material in the uterine wall along with distended uterine horns containing a large volume of cellular contents. Radiographic imaging revealed cranio-dorsal displacement of the small intestine and a twisted uniform tubular opacity with a distended uterus. The vaginal cytology revealed a large number of degenerated neutrophils, intermediate and parabasal cells. Escherichia coli were the major pathogen isolated from the pyometra uteri of bitches. The surface of the endometrium was columnar ciliated epithelium, with hyperplasia of subepithelial tissue and thick muscularis. The haemato-biochemical evaluation in pyometra infected bitches revealed decreased haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocytic count (TEC) and lymphocyte count indicating the microcytic hypochromic type of anaemia. Leucocytosis with a predominant absolute neutrophilia and lymphocytosis were consistently found in canine pyometra. There was a significantly elevated profile of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, transaminases and alkaline phosphatase as well as total proteins observed in pyometric female dogs as compared to healthy ones which may have diagnostic and prognostic importance, which also indicated damage of vital organ caused by bacterial endotoxins. The haemato-biochemical indices correlating with imaging techniques, vaginal cytology and histopathological examination can serve as good prognostic markers in bitches with pyometra.