NOTAS E INFORMAÇÕES
NOTES AND INFORMATION
FETAL MUMMIFICATION IN A
BITCH WITH PYOMETRA
MASAO IWASAKI
Professor Assistente Doutor
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária
e Zootecnia da USP
BENEDICTO W LADEM IR DE MARTIN
Professor Adjunto
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária
e Zootecnia da USP
JOSÉ DE ALV A REN GA
Professor Livre-Docente
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária
e Zootecnia da USP
INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE
Fetal mummification can result from disturbance at
the course of pregnancy, when fetal death is not associated
to microbian contaminations. The process o f mummifica­
tion carries reabsorption o f placentary liquids and, conse­
quently, involution o f fetal membranes, that stay adhered
to dried fetus (JUBB & K EN N EDY2, 1973).
Fetal mummification in dogs occurs after uterine trau­
matisms (SMITH4 , 1974), however, it is considered rare in
this species (ROBERTS3, 1971). On the other hand,
(SMITH4 , 1974) mentions the possibility of rupture o f ute­
rine wall consequent from dystocias, and at certain condi­
tions, it can have dislocation of fetus to the abdominal cavi­
ty. I f fetal circulation is maintained, with fetal death, it will
be possible that it suffers reabsorption or produces peritoni­
tis.
The purpose of this report is detain for lack of infor­
mation at veterinary literature about occurrence o f fetal
mummification at abdominal cavity in animals o f canine
species, associated to pyometra.
CLIN ICA L REPORT
M ASAO, I. Fetal mummification in a bitch with pyometra. Rev.
Fac.Med.vet.Zootec.UnivJS. Paulo, 18(2): 177-179, 1981.
S U M M A R Y : It is reported a case of a bitch presenting fetal m um m i­
fication in the abdominal cavity concomitant with pyometra, being
considered an uncommon finding at veterinary literature. The ani­
mal was treated surgically with absolute success.
UNITERMS: Bitch*; Fetal mummification*; Pyometra*.
Is was presented to clinical examination a mongrel
bitch 7 years old, multiparous, having the last pregnancy
occurred 2 years ago. At the two last months, the animal
showed, twice, vaginal discharge with bloody aspect, being
treated with antibiotic, till supression o f symptoms.
At clinical examination, it was verified an enlargement
o f the abdomen, bloody vaginal discharge, rectal temperatu­
re 39,3°C, congestive mucous membranes. At abdominal
touching, presence o f formation suggesting an enlargement
o f uterine horns and also inappetence. Hemogran revealed
leukocytosis (17.250/mm3), plasmatic degeneration o f neu­
trophils, monocytosis and increase o f young neutrophils.
Radiographic examinations o f abdominal cavity at lateral
(figure 1) and ventro-dorsal positions, and also excretory
urography technics revealed defined contour o f the uterus,
with enlargement occupying all the medium-caudal position
o f abdomen, and also the presence o f image o f round for­
mation, with heterogenous density, but suggesting esqueletic structure, situated at cranial-ventral region.
A clinical pyometra diagnosis was suggested, associa­
ted to probable presence o f mummified fetus in the abdo­
minal cavity. It was indicated surgical treatment, through
laparothomy, when is was verified pyometra associated to
the round formation at the adipose tissue o f epiplon.
It was realized ovariohysterectomy and excision of the
formation situated at the epiplon, having the animal presen­
ted favourable pos-operative evolution.
At the examination of the conjunct ovary-horn-uterus,
it was verified, at the wall of the uterus, point o f cicatricional retraction, with growth of adipose tissue (figure 2 ); the
178
IW ASAKl, M.; DE M ARTIN, B.W.; A LV A REN G A , J.
round formation, after opened its fibrcse membrane, exhi­
bited at its interior, a mummified fetus (figure 3).
REFERENCES
1—
DISCUSSION
IW ASAKl, M.
Estudo do aparelho urinário e de pa­
tologias abdominais em cães e gatos, mediante
emprego da urografia excretora.
This report points to found clinical setting extremaly
rare, because the fetal mummification refered by SMITH 4
(1974) only occurs in absence o f microbian contamination
(JUBB & K EN N ED Y 2, 1973) and it would be rare at the
canine species (RO BERT S^, 1971).
The mummified fetus was located in the abdominal ca­
vity, possibly since last pregnancy, having reached that site
through rupture o f uterine wall, according to cicatricial re­
action found in the uterus. Concomitantly, it was evidenced
presence o f pyometra that was suspected by radiologic exa­
mination through the technique o f excretory urography
(IW A S A K lI. 1977), that permited verification o f isolation
between formation involving mummified fetus and uterine
horns.
1977.
São Paulo,
[Tese de Doutorado. Instituto de Bio-
ciéncias — Universidade de São Paulo]
2-
JUBB, K.V.F. «St KEN N EDY, P.C. Patologia de los
animates domésticos. Barcelona, Labor, 1973.
p.6 1 1.
3—
ROBERTS, S.J. Veterinary obstetrics and genital
diseases. New York, Ithaca, 1971. p .173-174.
4-
SMITH, K.W. Female genital system. In: A R C H I­
BALD, J. Canine medicine. 2.ed. California,
AVP, 1974. p.75 1-774.
HVASAKI. M. Foto m um ificado em uma cadela com piom etra. Rev.
Fac.Mcd.vct.Zootec.Univ.S. Paulo, 18(2): 1 77 -1 7 9 , 1 8 8 1 .
RF.SUMO: Relato de caso dc uma cadela que apresentava feto mu­
mificado concomitantcmcntc com piometra; quadro incomum na
literatura veterinária. O animal foi tratado cirurgicamente com absoluto sucesso.
UNITERM OS: Feto. mumificação* : Cadelas*: Piometra*.
R e c e b id o para p u b lic a ç ã o c m : 16-03-81
Aprovado para publicação em: 27-08-81
FIG.I- Lateral radio­
graphy o f excretory
urography, showing
defined contour of
enlarged uterus and
correspondent image
o f mummified fetus.
Rev.Fae.Med.vet.Zootec.Univ.S. Paulo. 18(21:1 77-179,.1981
Fetal mummification in a bitch with pyometra.
179
FIG. 2- Photo o f en­
larged uterine horns
and mummified fe­
tus envolvcd by fi­
brose membrane.
FIG. 3- Photo o f
enlarged
uterine
horns and m um m i­
fied fetus.
Rev.Fac.M ed.vet.Zootec.Univ.S. Paulo, 1 8(2 ):1 77-179, 1981.