2 – Female Reproduction Flashcards
What are the disorders of the vulva and vagina often associated with?
- Breeding or parturition
- Ex. edema, hemorrhage, lacerations
Many species are susceptible to GENITAL HERPESVIRUS INFECTION, what does it result in?
- Multifocal, epithelial necrosis
- Erosive to ulcerative vulvitis and vaginitis (vulvovaginitis)
Vaginal polyps
- Most common in dogs
- Benign (typically pedunculated), mass of fibrovascular tissue covered by an epithelium that projects from a mucosal surface
What is the most common neoplasm of the vulva? What is it more common in?
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Common in cows, ewes and mares
o Likely related to greater EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT
What neoplasm of the vulva are grey mares predisposed to?
- Malignant melanoma of the vulva
Canine transmissible venereal tumors
- *Thought to arise from genetically altered histiocytes
- Cauliflower-like neoplasms that range in size (few mm to 10+cm)
- Typically located on external genitalia
- Metastasis is uncommon
- Usually progressive
What makes canine transmissible venereal tumors unique?
- Can be transplanted between dogs (usually during coitus) and between different mucosal sites on the same dog by direct contact (ex. licking)
Where are transmissible venereal tumors prevalent?
- High in tropical and subtropical urban environments
- Rare in other locations
- *but worldwide
Transmissible venereal tumors are usually progressive, what is the ‘treatment’?
- Chemotherapy is effective treatment
- Radiation is effective, but more complicated to administer and less available
- Other forms=less effective
Abortion
- Expulsion of fetus prior to completion of pregnancy
o Implies fetus was not yet viable
Still birth
- Delivery of dead fetus after a full-term gestation, when normal fetus would be capable of independent existence outside the uterus
When does fetal mummification occur?
- When dead fetus is retained in uterus and becomes dehydrated
What does fetal mummification imply?
- absence of bacteria that would lead to lysis of tissues and that the cervix had remained closed
When does fetal maceration occur?
- When dead fetus is retained in uterus but undergoes softening b/c of PRESENCE of bacteria that causes lysis of the tissues
What is the function of progesterone during pregnancy?
- *needed to maintain pregnancy
- Supports establishment of viable conceptus within the uterus
o Promotes endometrial secretions
o Suppression of myometrial activity
What is the source of progesterone during pregnancy?
- Varies between species
- CL
- Fetoplacental unit (placenta and in some, the fetal adrenal glands)
CL
- Glandular mass formed in ovary by granulosa cells of a graafian follicle that has discharged its ovum
- Persists if ovum is fertilized
Queen and bitch CL
- Persists thought-out gestation
- CL has a predetermined lifespan that is equal to the length of a normal gestation
- Fetuses that die before the normal length are RETAINED until near term
Sow and doe CL
- Necessary throughout gestation, but lifespan is not predetermined
- Fetuses that die before term have a VARIABLE OUTCOME
Ewe, mare and cow CL
- necessary until mid-gestation in ewe and mare
- Even later in a cow
- *afterwards: fetoplacental unit produces progesterone
- Fetal death in last trimester will result in EXPULSION WITHIN A FEW DAYS
Late-term abortion pathophysiology: ‘steps’
- Maturation of fetal HPA axis
a. Increased production of ACTH and corticosteroids by fetus(es) and increased concentrations in fetal and maternal circulation
b. Causes higher levels of estrogen and decreased production of progesterone - *estrogen-to-progesterone ratio promotes:
a. RELAXATION of pelvic ligaments
b. Dilation of cervix
c. Placental separation from endometrium
d. Uterine contraction
In parturition/abortion, what are the 2 paths that result in synthesis and release of PGs by uterus and luteolysis?
- Fetal stress results in increased cortisol production by fetal adrenal gland
- fetal death and/or inflammation
Why is a diagnostic rate of 50% for abortion considered excellent?
- Might be due to disease in 1 of 3 compartments (dam, placenta, fetus)
- Biased to diagnose infectious disease (90% of the 50% involve an infectious agent)
- Autolysis, freezing-thawing, heat, desiccation, contamination
Vet diagnostic labs are well equipped to diagnose infectious disease but they are poorly equipped to diagnose _______ or ___________ defects
- Genetic or chromosomal
What are the viruses that can cause abortion in cats
- Feline herpesvirus
- FIV
- FIP
- FeLV
- **Feline panleukopenia virus (Feline parvovirus, also associated with developmental defects: cerebellar abiotrophy)
- *reproductive failure is due to maternal illness (rather than placental or fetal lesions)
What can happen when a pregnant queen is infected with a virus?
- Embryonic death and resorption OR
- Abortion of mummified fetuses that died mid-to late gestation
- *reproductive failure is due to maternal illness rather than from placental or fetal lesions
What else has feline panleukopenia virus (feline parvovirus) been associated with?
- Developmental defects
- Ex. cerebellar abiotrophy
o Premature degeneration, necrosis or BOTH of neurons caused by some intrinsic abnormality in their structure or metabolism
What are the bacteria that can cause abortion in cats?
- E. coli
- Staphylococcus sp.
- Streptococcus sp.
- *thought to enter uterus during breeding
What protozoa MAY cause abortion in cats?
- Toxoplasma gondii
- *still up for debate in cats
What is the virus that can cause abortion in dogs? What does it cause?
- Canine herpesvirus
- *can cross placenta and cause fetal death, delivery of mummified fetuses and late term abortion
- *more likely to cause MORTALITY IN PUPPIES (less than 5 weeks)
o Low body temperature=increases pathogenicity of the virus
Pathogenesis of canine herpesvirus infection in neonatal puppies
- First encounter virus during or shortly after parturition
o Ingest or inhale virus contained fluids in birth canal OR contained in oral or nasal cavity of the dam - Spreads systemically to lymphocytes
What is the tropism of canine herpesvirus? What does it result in?
- Brucella canis
- *cell associated bacteremia
- *usually infects placenta and causes late term abortion of dead and autolyzed fetuses
What is the acronym that refers to the effect some viruses have on porcine reproduction?
- SMEDI
- S: stillbirth
- M: mummification
- ED: embryonic death
- I: infertility
What are the viruses that can cause abortions in pigs?
- PRRS virus: *Arterivirus
- Porcine circovirus-2
- Porcine parvovirus (PPV)
- (Porcine herpesvirus)
- (Pestivirus)
What causes Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)? What does it cause?
- Arterivirus
- *late term abortion
What are the gross or histological lesions of PRRS?
- Arteritis (hemorrhage and edema) OR
- Myocarditis in small proportion of aborted fetuses
What does porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) cause? What are the lesions in the fetuses?
- Variety of disease syndromes
- Fetal mummification, abortion, stillbirths and weak newborn pigs
- *necrosis and inflammation of heart and heart failure
What does porcine parvovirus (PPV) cause?
- Embryonic death with resorption
- Fetal mummification
- Small litters in gilts (and uncommonly in sows)
- *classically: STAIR STEP LITTERS
What is a stair step litter?
- Variably sized, dead fetuses that are at different stages of development at time of in utero death AND amount of time each fetus has been retained
Reproductive losses associated with PPV: 1-30 days
- Embryonic death with resorption
Reproductive losses associated with PPV: 30-70 days
- Fetal death and mummification
- *stair-step litters
Reproductive losses associated with PPV: over 70 days
- Fetus mounts an immune response
What are 2 reportable swine diseases in Canada and what are they caused by?
- Hog cholera (classical swine fever): Pestivirus
- Pseudorabies (Aujesky’s disease): Porcine herpesvirus-1
What are the lesions with hog cholera and pseudorabies?
- Early embryonic death
- Fetal mummification
- Abortion
- Still births
- *PHV: can cause multiple random foci of necrosis in a variety of organs (including liver)
Bacteria as a cause of abortion in pigs
- Rare (less than 10%)
What are the bacteria that can cause abortion in pigs?
- Brucella suis
- Leptospira sp.
- (Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae)
- (Actionbacillus suis)
- (Salmonella sp.)
- *potentially contagious and greater threat
- Opportunistic ones: Strep spp, Staph spp, E. coli
What are the lesions in the fetus if bacteria was the cause of abortion in pigs?
- SUPPURATIVE PLACENTITIS and pneumonia
- Recover of bacteria from some of:
o Placenta
o Stomach contents
o Liver
o Lung
o Kidney
o spleen
What causes Border disease in sheep (and goats)?
- Pestivirus (border disease virus)
how is pestivirus in sheep (and goats) transmitted?
- Via body fluids and feces of INFECTED animals
What happens if a pregnant animal (sheep or goat) is infected with Pestivirus?
- Infection of placenta and fetus
o NECROTIC placentitis
o Fetal death
o Abortion
o Stillbirth
o Birth of lambs with malformations (including neurological abnormalities)
What is a common neurological abnormality in lambs infected from Pestivirus? What is a ‘gross’ lesions seen in them?
- Hypomyelination
o Manifests as tremors to toxic-clonic contractions (cycle of prolonged contraction and relaxation) - *’hairy shakers’: develop coarse hairs instead of fleece
What are the bacteria that can cause sporadic abortion in individual sheep and goats?
- Brucella sp. And Leptospira sp. (problems HERDS in other parts of world, NOT Canada)
- Listeria monocytogenes: similar to cattle
- Chlamydophila aboruts
- Coxiella burnetii
- Campylobacter fetus subsp. Fetus (Campylobacter jejuni)
What is the most common cause of infectious abortion in sheep and goats in the USA (and probably Canada)?
- Chlamydophila abortus
- *enzoonotic abortion
What is the route of infection for Chlamydophila abortus thought to be?
- Ingestion with hematogenous spread to the uterus and placenta
What can infection of naïve pregnant females (sheep and goats) lead to?
- Abortion of FRESH or AUTOLYZED fetuses
- Stillbriths
- Weak new borns
*What is the most reliable lesion of Chlamydophila abortus infection?
- Multifocal, localized or generalized necrotic placentitis of cotyledons and intercotyledonary areas
What can Coxiella burnetti cause in sheep and goats? How is it transmitted?
- Abortion and stillbirth
- Transmitted by ticks OR ingested
How does Coxiella burnetti spread in sheep and goats?
- Hematogenous spread
- severe necrosis of villi of the cotyledons and epithelium of the intercotyledonary areas
- *marked suppurative inflammation (best seen over intercotyldonary areas)
What does Campylobacter fetus supsp. fetus (less often Campylobacter jejuni) cause in sheep?
- Abortion
o ‘abortion storm’: 5-70%, but usually 25% or pregnant ewes affected - *aborted fetsues have characteristic TARGET lesions in the liver
Abortions in sheep and goats and zoonosis
- *if it causes abortion in sheep or goats, it might be zoonotic!
Toxoplasma gondii: sheep and goats
- Ingest food or water ingested with oocysts from feces of infected cats
- Tachyzoites (single celled organisms) spread throughout body including placenta and fetus
- *tachyzoites multiply and cause NECROSIS and CALCIFICATION within cotyledons
o Followed by inflammatory response - *intercotyledonary areas are UNAFFECTED
Abortion in cattle ‘normal %’s’
- 3-4% abort after 30-50d
- 90% of abortions due to infectious agent
Still births in cattle ‘normal %’s’
- 4-6% will deliver a stillborn calf
o Asphyxia: 85%
o Congenital anomalies: 5-30%
o Infection: 10%
What does adventitial placentation describe?
- Placentation that develops in an abnormal OR unusual position or place and represents a mechanism to COMPENSATE for inadequate development of PLACENTOMES
What does adventitial placentation look like anatomically?
- Composed of primitive villus placentation that develops near existing placentomes
What does the presence of adventitial placentation indicate?
- Insufficient placentation and abnormal pregnancy
- **NOT A CAUSE OF INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDATION OR ABORTION
What happens if a dam (bovine) ingestions or inhales saprophytic fungi spores from moldy feed? What are the fungi?
- Enters dam through lungs or alimentary system and INFECTS THE PLACENTA
- Ex. Aspergillus sp., Rhizopus, sp., Mucor sp.
- *can get multifocal necrotizing mycotic dermatitis
