Oviductal prolapse associated with a leiomyoma in a Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni)

J. Simard

doi:10.21825/vdt.v90i2.18828

Abstract

A twelve-year-old, female Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) was presented with an oviductal prolapse after showing tenesmus for three days prior to presentation. Radiography revealed a soft tissue opacity in the caudal coelomic cavity that ultrasonographically presented as a congested, invaginated tubular structure and was deemed to comprise the left oviduct. After repositioning the oviductal prolapse, coelioscopy confirmed that the invaginated structure consisted of the anterior part of the left oviduct and incorporated a part of the ipsilateral mesovarium and mesosalpinx. A transplastron osteotomy was carried out to perform unilateral salpingectomy and bilateral ovariectomy. A definitive diagnosis of an oviductal leiomyoma was made based on histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of the invaginated part of the oviduct. In the present case, the authors highlight that neoplastic disorders should be considered as a cause of oviductal invagination and prolapse in chelonians. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of the diagnosis and successful treatment of an oviductal leiomyoma in a Hermann’s tortoise.

Highlights

The cloaca of reptiles is a vestibule where the gastrointestinal, urinary and reproductive tract terminate (McArthur and Machin, 2019)
After repositioning the oviductal prolapse, coelioscopy confirmed that the invaginated structure consisted of the anterior part of the left oviduct and incorporated a part of the ipsilateral mesovarium and mesosalpinx
A cloacal prolapse in reptiles may consist of everted cloacal tissue or may involve the colon, urinary bladder, oviduct, hemipenis or phallus/clitoris (Hedley and Eatwell, 2014)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The cloaca of reptiles is a vestibule where the gastrointestinal, urinary and reproductive tract terminate (McArthur and Machin, 2019). Longitudinal striation indicative for oviductal tissue was not observed, the prolapsed tissue was considered to comprise the oviduct based on the thick muscular appearance and tubular presentation, luminal patency of the colon and voiding of urine and feces during physical examination (McArthur and Machin, 2019). The tortoise was positioned in right lateral recumbency to perform a routine coelioscopy from left prefemoral fossa as previously described by Proença and Divers (2015) and confirmed the presence of an invagination of the anterior part of the left oviduct that incorporated a part of the ipsilateral mesovarium and mesosalpinx (Figure 3). The infundibulum and uterine tube of the surgically removed oviduct appeared swollen and well vascularized, showing a white-yellow glistering surface on the cut (Figure 4C). Based on the histologic examination, a definitive diagnosis of an oviductal leiomyoma was made

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION