Abstract
An 18-year-old gray mare (a crossbred Nigerian horse) was observed to have a proliferative tissue growth with multiple necrotic areas, which was suspected to be a genital squamous cell carcinoma. The mucous membrane of the eyes and gingiva of the mare were pale, and the animal was dull and insensitive, had an abnormal posture and gait, with conspicuous protruding proliferative tissue mass around the vagina and vulva. Blood samples for hematology analysis and serum biochemistry were collected from the jugular vein and determinations followed standard procedures. Hematological examination revealed that the mare had macrocytic anaemia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, monocytosis, higher than normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Serum biochemical assays showed that serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were slightly lower than normal. High serum alkaline phosphatase activity was recorded, with high serum total protein level that was mainly due to high serum globulin level. The mare also had a lower than normal total cholesterol. High serum creatinine level was observed. These hematological and serum biochemical findings are commonly associated with genital squamous cell carcinomas in animals and humans.
Highlights
Squamous cell carcinomas are locally invasive malignant neoplasms of the genitals, which are commonly diagnosed in horses (Bolin, 1999; Pimenta-Oliveira et al, 2011)
There is paucity of information in the area of hematology and serum biochemistry abnormalities associated with genital squamous cell carcinoma in horses; the current case report documented the hematological and serum biochemistry abnormalities associated with genital squamous cell carcinoma in a mare
Macrocytic anaemia is commonly associated with blood loss (Coles, 1986; Stockham and Scott, 2008) and it is thought that there was blood loss in the mare from the necrotic areas of the proliferating neoplasm
Summary
Squamous cell carcinomas are locally invasive malignant neoplasms of the genitals, which are commonly diagnosed in horses (Bolin, 1999; Pimenta-Oliveira et al, 2011). Horses with lightly pigmented skin, such as those with a gray hair coat or white faces, are especially prone to developing SCC (Beuchner-Maxwell, 2009) and some breeds such as the Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Appaloosa, Clydesdale may have a genetic predisposition (Knottenbett and McGarry, 2009) This neoplasia has been reported to affect old gray female horses, pintos and individual horses with little or no pigmentation around the mucocutaneous junctions such as the anus when exposed to ultra-violet radiation for a long period of time (Burney et al, 1992; Miller, 2007; Beuchner-Maxwell, 2009; Knottenbett and McGarry, 2009). There is paucity of information in the area of hematology and serum biochemistry abnormalities associated with genital squamous cell carcinoma in horses; the current case report documented the hematological and serum biochemistry abnormalities associated with genital squamous cell carcinoma in a mare
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