1. Ultrasonography of the normal reproductive tract of the female domestic cat
- Author
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Delphine Rault, Xavier Levy, Koen Chiers, Hilde De Rooster, Laure Gatel, Karine Chalvet-Monfray, Jimmy Saunders, Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University [Belgium] (UGENT), Referral Center in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and Neurology, AZURVET, Unité de recherche d'Épidémiologie Animale (UEA), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Small Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center of Canine Reproduction in South-Est of France, Clinique Vétérinaire Isle jourdain - CRECS (CRECS), Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiteit Gent = Ghent University [Belgium] (UGENT), Unité Mixte de Recherche d'Épidémiologie des maladies Animales et zoonotiques (UMR EPIA), and VetAgro Sup - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur et de recherche en alimentation, santé animale, sciences agronomiques et de l'environnement (VAS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)
- Subjects
[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,Uterus ,Ovary ,Luteal phase ,Biology ,Endometrium ,Ultrasonography, Prenatal ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Food Animals ,Pregnancy ,Follicular phase ,medicine ,Animals ,10. No inequality ,Small Animals ,reproductive and urinary physiology ,Ultrasonography ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,Equine ,Reproduction ,0402 animal and dairy science ,Myometrium ,Uterine horns ,Genitalia, Female ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Anatomy ,040201 dairy & animal science ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Animals, Domestic ,Cats ,Pregnancy, Animal ,Female ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Corpus Uteri - Abstract
The objective of this study was (1) to describe the US appearance and obtain reference values for the uterus and ovaries in nongravid and gravid queens with histologically confirmed reproductive tracts without disorders, (2) to provide US measurements of the reproductive tract compared to gross macroscopic and water-bath post-OVH US measurements in nongravid queens, and (3) to describe the sonographic appearance of the female reproductive tract during the different histopathologic phases of the reproductive cycle in nongravid and gravid queens. Ninety-three queens from a "trap, neuter, return" program were included in this study. Sonographic evaluation of the reproductive tract was performed in all queens, and measurements of the corpus uteri, uterine horns, and ovaries were recorded. Following OVH, macroscopic measurements were obtained, and a water-bath US evaluation of these tissues and measurements was recorded. Samples from the corpus uteri and both the uterine horns and ovaries were collected for histopathologic examination after all measurements had been recorded. Seventy-two reproductive tracts met the inclusion criteria by having a histopathologically confirmed normal reproductive tract. Sixty-three queens were nonpregnant and 9 were pregnant. The ovaries and uterus were sonographically visible in all queens regardless of reproductive status. The ovaries were ovoid in shape, and the uterus appeared as a tubular structure with distinct wall layers (serosa and indistinct myometrium and myometrium, or serosa, myometrium, and endometrium), with variable echogenicity of the inner layers. The layering of the uterine wall, observed during the second half of pregnancy, was described. Ovarian follicles were visible in 66/72 (92%) cats. However, the CL was only visible in 40/72 (55%) cats. The reference values of the left ovarian length, right ovarian length, uterine horn diameter, and uterine body are 7.1-13.9, 7.3-13.6, 1-5.8, and 1.5-5.3 mm, respectively, in a nongravid uterus. The uterine wall thickness during pregnancy varied from 2.4 to 6.8 mm. There was a significant positive correlation between US measurements obtained in vivo and those obtained macroscopically and in a water bath post-OVH. The body weight, follicular size, sonographic visibility of the uterine wall layering, the histopathologic luteal phase, and the active/inactive status on histopathology had a significant effect on the uterine measurements (p 0.05). It was not possible to describe the exact US features of the reproductive tract during the different histopathologic phases. In conclusion, ultrasonographic reference values for the normal female reproductive tract in cats were determined. The results of this study indicated that the ovaries and uterus were visible in cats regardless of reproductive status.
- Published
- 2020