Volume Issue 1 B-4684 [1-7] RESEARCH ARTICLE Indian Journal of Animal Research Clinico-haemato-biochemical and Pathological Alteration of Pyometra in Canines Dibyajyoti Talukdar 1 , Kalyan Sarma 1 , Bedanga Konwar 1 , T.C. Tolenkhomba 1 , Papori Talukdar 2 , Sikder Jabidur Islam 1 , Anil Deka 2 , Anurag Garg 1 10.18805/IJAR.B-4684 ABSTRACT Background: Pyometra is a pathological state of the compromised uterus of grown-up to old, diestrum bitches. Pyometra is easy to identify but can be more challenging when there is no vaginal discharge. In the present study, an attempt was made to find out the pathogen involvement and clinico-haemato-biochemical alteration in bitches affected with Pyometra. Methods: Twelve bitches with a history of inappetence, polydipsia, dirty vaginal discharge, occasional vomition irrespective of breeds and age groups were clinically examined and diagnosed as pyometra. The presumptive clinical diagnosis was based on case history, clinical signs, vaginal cytology, abdominal ultrasonography or radiography, gross examination of a pus-filled uterus after the ovariohysterectomy. Result: Vaginal examination revealed brown chocolate malodorous vaginal discharge with discolouration of the perivulval tissue. Abdominal ultrasound showed hyperplasia with echogenic material in the uterine wall along with distended uterine horns containing a large volume of cellular contents. Radiographic imaging revealed cranio-dorsal displacement of the small intestine and a twisted uniform tubular opacity with a distended uterus. The vaginal cytology revealed a large number of degenerated neutrophils, intermediate and parabasal cells. Escherichia coli were the major pathogen isolated from the pyometra uteri of bitches. The surface of the endometrium was columnar ciliated epithelium, with hyperplasia of subepithelial tissue and thick muscularis. The haemato-biochemical evaluation in pyometra infected bitches revealed decreased haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocytic count (TEC) and lymphocyte count indicating the microcytic hypochromic type of anaemia. Leucocytosis with a predominant absolute neutrophilia and lymphocytosis were consistently found in canine pyometra. There was a significantly elevated profile of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, transaminases and alkaline phosphatase as well as total proteins observed in pyometric female dogs as compared to healthy ones which may have diagnostic and prognostic importance, which also indicated damage of vital organ caused by bacterial endotoxins. The haemato-biochemical indices correlating with imaging techniques, vaginal cytology and histopathological examination can serve as good prognostic markers in bitches with pyometra. Key words: Canine, Haemato-biochemical, Imaging technique, Pyometra, Uterine pathology. INTRODUCTION Pyometra is a pathological condition of the compromised uterus of old to previous, diestrual bitches and should occur as results of an exaggerated and abnormal response to chronic and perennial progestogen stimulation (Corrada et al. 2006). The pyometra is developed due to invasion of Escherichia coli (E. coli) to the uterus from the vagina and started to proliferate inside the numerous cysts and crypts when the local immunity compromised (Batista et al. 2016). To diagnose the condition, a history of recent heat sign and other clinical signs, especially vaginal discharge, should raise the suspicion. The diagnosis can be more challenging in certain condition when the sign of vaginal discharge is lacking in bitches. Haemato-biochemical evaluations are not specific for pyometra. But, the presence of inflammation and secondary metabolic disturbances are more often in pyometra cases. The haematological analysis will often demonstrate a neutrophilia with a degenerative left shift which may be also identified in animals with endotoxemia (Hardy and Osborne 1974). Pyometra may cause dehydration of the animal as a result BUN and creatinine level is elevated which is also found in kidney insufficiency in an older bitch (Asheim 1965). Generally, abdominal ultrasonography is the preferred method for evaluating pyometra in bitches and queen (Dennis and Brian 2012). It may also be accustomed to exclude alternative conditions which will cause female internal reproductive organ enlargement or discharge, like early physiological state 1 Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Aizawl-796 015, Mizoram, India. 2 College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati-781 001, Assam, India. Corresponding Author: Dibyajyoti Talukdar, Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Aizawl-796 015, Mizoram, India. Email: dibya26@gmail.com How to cite this article: Talukdar D., Sarma, K., Konwar, B., Tolenkhomba, T.C., Talukdar, P., Islam, S.J., Deka, A. and Garg A. (2022). Clinico-haemato-biochemical and Pathological Alteration of Pyometra in Canines. Indian Journal of Animal Research. DOI: 10.18805/IJAR.B-4684. Submitted: 21-06-2021 Accepted: 22-03-2022 Online: 12-05-2022