Vinícius Wagner Silva

Background: Differentiation of the genital system occurs through a chronological sequence of events involving the determination of chromosomal, gonadal, and phenotypic sex. Disorders of sexual development (DSDs) include chromosomal sex abnormalities, gonadal abnormalities, and phenotypic variations. The purpose of this case report was to demonstrate the clinical signs and diagnosis by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and karyotyping of a DSD in a French Bulldog (XX, male).Case: A 7-month-old phenotypically female French Bulldog with a history of clitoral hypertrophy and no signs of puberty is reported. The animal presented with a 3 cm micropenis protruding from the vulvar labia, causing discomfort and constant licking. Pelvic radiography confirmed the presence of a penile bone, supporting the differential for a disorder of sexual development (DSD). There were no abnormalities of the vaginal canal or urethral orifice. The animal underwent exploratory celiotomy to remove 2 uterine horns and their respective gonads, followed by clitoridectomy via episiotomy. Sex reversal was confirmed by histology, as seminiferous tubules and bilateral hypoplastic epididymides were identified on ovarian topography. Immunohistochemistry of gonadal tissues was positive with antibodies to progesterone and estrogen receptors, but negative with polyclonal androgen receptors and prostate-specific antigen. Karyotyping revealed XX sex chromosomes.Discussion: This dog was diagnosed as an XX DSD male (DSD 78, testicular XX) due to the presence of abdominal testes, uterus, predominantly female external genitalia with vulva and micropenis, and female sex chromosomes. Six cases of DSD have recently been reported in phenotypically female French Bulldogs due to the presence of clitoral hypertrophy or a micropenis with an atypical location. The increase in cases in this breed may be due to its popularity and increased consanguinity. Animals with clinical suspicion of DSD show signs during puberty and most of these animals tend to have a history of externalized structure in the vulva without signs of urethral and vaginal canal obstruction. In animals with ambiguous genitalia and DSDs, the estrous cycle may be normal, absent, or irregular. Because of the discomfort in the clitoral region, clitoridectomy is the 1 st line of treatment to prevent self-mutilation and future cases of vaginitis, and gonadectomy is also performed to prevent future uterine disorders and gonadal and mammary carcinogenesis. It is not uncommon for XX male animals to be unilateral or bilateral cryptorchids, in this case, both testes were in the abdominal cavity, and the animal had a normal uterus. Several alternative procedures can be performed for a better understanding of DSDs, namely: histopathology; immunohistochemistry or hormone dosage; karyotyping; and molecular analyses. These tests are important to determine the genetic sex of an animal and to confirm its concordance with the phenotypic sex. There is no evidence of interference of specific genes in the phenotypic expression of XX males, suggesting that the factors involved in their occurrence are still unknown. The hereditary nature of this disorder has not been ruled out and there are currently no laboratory tests available to identify carriers. It is recommended that cases of DSD be thoroughly investigated using complementary examinations to ensure accurate categorization of each disorder. Keywords: clitoral hypertrophy, ambiguous genitalia, immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics, sexual dimorphism.

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH)–pyometra complex is the most common uterine infection in adult and elderly bitches and can cause renal dysfunction. The aim of this study was to measure and compare urinary creatinine, urea, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), urinary protein–creatinine ratio (UPC), measurement of systolic blood pressure (SBP), and Doppler velocimetry of renal arteries in patients with CEH–pyometra complex before and after an average of 6 months of treatment, evaluating the possibility of the changes persisting. The evaluation was conducted at two moments: M1 (at the diagnosis of CEH–pyometra, n = 36) and M2 (after an average of six months of treatment, n = 16). For the control group, eight bitches with no changes in blood tests or history of conditions underwent Doppler ultrasound evaluation of the renal arteries. At both M1 and M2, we measured creatinine, urea, and serum SDMA, UPC, SBP, and Doppler ultrasound of the renal arteries. Patients were evaluated according to the following groups: azotemic (AZO) and non‐azotemic (NAZO), and open and closed cervix pyometra. The parameters were compared between animals present in both moments presented as M1R (bitches that were in M1 and M2) and M2. Statistical significance was considered when p < .05. The medians found for creatinine in M1 were as follows: 1.15 mg/dL, being 1.8 mg/dL for AZO (12/36) and 0.95 mg/dL for NAZO (24/36); and in M2: 0.85 mg/dL (16/16), being 1.15 mg/dL for AZO (4/16) and 0.8 mg/dL for NAZO (12/36). For urea, in M1 it was 36 mg/dL (32/36), with AZO being 103 mg/dL (11/32) and 33 mg/dL in NAZO (21/32); and in M2 32 mg/dL (16/ 16), being 29 mg/dL for AZO (4/36), and 31 mg/dL for NAZO (3/15). The median SDMA measured in M1R was 17 μg/dL (15/16), with AZO being 31 μg/dL (3/15), and NAZO being 16.5 μg/dL (12/15); and in M2, SDMA was 12 μg/dL (16/16), with AZO being 12.5 μg/dL (4/16), and NAZO being 12 μg/dL (12/16). The median UPC measured in M1 was 1.15 (10/36), with AZO being 0.25 (1/10), and NAZO being 1.38 (9/10); and in M2, it was 0.2 (13/16), being 0.1 in AZO (4/13), and 0.2 (9/16) in NAZO. For SBP, in M1, it was 118 mmHg (30/36), with AZO being 102 mmHg (10/30) and 133 mmHg in NAZO (20/30); and in M2 142.5 mmHg (12/16), being 155 mmHg for AZO (4/12), and 140 mg/dL for NAZO (8/12). When comparing animals with open and closed cervixes, a difference was found between SDMA measurements (p = .001). There was a distinction between PI and RI of the left and right kidneys consecutively (p = .007; p = .033; p = .019; p = .041). Correlations found in M1: SDMA × PI RIM DIR (r = 0.873; p = .002), SDMA × PSV RIM ESQ (r = 0.840; p = .004), SDMA × EDV RIM ESQ (r = 0.675; p = .046). With this study, we conclude a return to normality of renal biomarkers and clinical parameters after six months. Yet, there is a persistence of Doppler velocimetric measurements between the two moments. Thus, this parameter is not suitable for identifying and classifying chronic kidney injury in bitches with pyometra.

The use of α2‐adrenergic agonists in association with urethral catheterization has been used as a technique for pharmacological semen collection in cats. The mechanism of action of this drug is the stimulation of adrenoreceptors in the vas deferens, which results in ejaculation. While medetomidine is the α2‐agonist most commonly used in studies, ejaculation with the use of dexmedetomidine associated with ketamine has been effective, but with variable results. Therefore, further studies regarding the methodology of use are required to obtain better seminal quality. This study aimed to compare two pharmacological semen collection times after the association of dexmedetomidine (30 μg/kg, IM; Dormitor®, Zoetis), ketamine (5 mg/kg, IM; ketamine, Vetnil) and urethral catheterization using a tomcat probe (0.8 mm × 1.00 mm × 11 cm). The collections were divided into two experimental groups: G10 (N = 8; urethral catheterization after 10 min of anaesthesia) and G15 (N = 8; urethral catheterization after 15 min of anaesthesia). The ejaculates were evaluated for ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, morphology and kinetics using the CASA system. To compare the groups, the t‐test and the Mann–Whitney U‐test were used with a significance level of 5%. It was identified that ejaculate volume (G10: 22.62 ± 2.13 vs. G15: 26.81 ± 1.55; p < .001) and sperm concentration (G10: 48.10 × 10⁶ ± 17.84 vs. G15: 90.18 × 10⁶ ± 19.35; p < .001) was higher in G15 than in G10 and had a lower percentage of minor defects than G10 (G10: 3.12 ± 2.41 vs. G15: 1.00 ± 1.19; p = .043). Regarding the kinetic parameters, the results of G15 were better for total motility—TM (G10: 67.00 ± 10.33 vs. G15: 81.87 ± 7.99; p = .006) and faster cells—RAPID: (G10: 55.00 ± 16.63 vs. G15: 74.25 ± 11.94; p = .019); whereas a higher proportion of cells with slow speed—SLOW were seen in G10 (G10: 31.00 ± 12.07 vs. 17.12 ± 7.53; p = .015). Based on these findings, we suggest that collection via urethral catheterization should be performed 15 min after the application of ketamine‐associated dexmedetomidine to obtain a better‐quality ejaculate.

O tumor venéreo transmissível é uma neoplasia distribuída mundialmente que acomete cães principalmente pelo contato sexual, os animais acometidos geralmente desenvolvem nódulos no trato reprodutivo inferior. As metástases são incomuns, normalmente são observadas em animais imunocomprometidos. O objetivo deste é relatar um caso de tumor venéreo transmissível em cadela disseminado pelo abdômen. A paciente apresentava uma massa única em região cranial da vagina e massas de diversos tamanhos aderidas à parede abdominal, ao mesentério e à serosa de órgãos como intestino, baço, vesícula urinária e útero, visibilizadas ao exame ultrassonográfico. Os exames complementares como a vaginoscopia e as análises citomorfológicas das massas da cavidade abdominal e em fundo de vagina foram de grande importância para o diagnóstico definitivo. O tratamento semanal com 0,5 mg/m2 de Sulfato de Vincristina durante sete semanas foi efetivo. A importância deste relato é a forma incomum de metástase de TVT, visto que acometia somente a serosa dos órgãos abdominais, sem comprometer a função destes.

O objetivo do trabalho foi relatar a apresentação clínica e, a correção cirúrgica da fimose congênita em um gato jovem, por postioplastia circunferencial. Um gato, macho, sem raça definida, com quatro meses de vida, deu entrada no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Estadual de Londrina, com queixa de disúria, polaciúria e polidipsia desde o nascimento, além de hematúria há um dia. No exame físico foi observada dermatite úmida em região escrotal, com presença de urina na cavidade prepucial, e, ao tentar-se a tração do pênis do paciente para a avaliação, foi identificado orifício prepucial com abertura insuficiente para a exposição. Diante do histórico, da idade do paciente e exame físico, fimose por estenose congênita do óstio prepucial foi sugerida como diagnóstico. O tratamento instituído foi a cirurgia de correção. Realizada uma incisão em forma de cunha na face craniodorsal do prepúcio com exérese de cerca de 3 mm, a mucosa da borda ipsilateral do prepúcio foi posicionada em padrão de sutura simples descontínua, utilizando fio não absorvível (monoylon) 5-0. Dez dias depois do procedimento, o animal estava urinando em jato, sem mais alterações. Desta forma, a realização da correção cirúrgica de fimose congênita em gatos, com a técnica de postioplastia circunferencial, é recomendada, pois há resolução das alterações clínicas. Além disso, foi evidente no presente trabalho, que o sucesso do prognóstico do paciente se deu devido ao conhecimento da fisiologia e a um exame clínico pediátrico eficiente.