Feline extrauterine pregnancy (EUP) in Persian cat with fetal mummification: a case study

Abstract

Extrauterine pregnancy (EUP) is caused by the implantation of the fetus outside the uterus. In this study, during a routine check-up of a 3-year-old non spayed female Persian cat, a mass on the abdomen was found on palpation, which later was diagnosed as an abdominal tumor. Clinical signs presented are pollakiuria and no lethargic. The radiographic examination revealed a well-defined circular mass with mineral opacity in the caudal abdomen. Ultrasound examination of this abdominal mass illustrated the presence of mummified fetus with an irregular arrangement of bones. Moreover, there was no heart movement, the fetal bones were hyperechoic. An exploratory laparotomy was performed for mass collection, and excised mass was dense. Histopathology investigation using HE staining results in bone, tongue, lung and pigmented skin. The fetal age was around 60 days old.

Ectopic Primary Abdominal Pregnancy in a Persian Cat

“…Diagnosis of this case depended on the case history and fi ndings of the clinical examination as well as laparotomy. In addition, abdominal ectopic pregnancy is truly primary when placentation presents onto a peritoneal or omental surface (Zheng et al, 2018;Vidiastuti et al, 2022), as in the current case. Th e diff erences between this case and other recorded ectopic pregnancy cases in cats are the number (N = 4) and diff erent developmental stages of the ectopic fetuses as shown in Table 1.…”

“…However, the reported cat in this case study is a Persian cat. Similarly, a Persian cat with ectopic pregnancy was recently diagnosed by Vidiastuti et al (2022).…”

“…Ectopic pregnancy refers to a pregnancy occurring outside of the cavity of the uterus. While this disorder is common in humans, it is rarely recorded in animals (Vidiastuti et al, 2022). Ectopic pregnancies are classifi ed according to the site of implantation and they can be abdominal and tubal pregnancies.…”

“…Abdominal pregnancies are also subdivided into primary and secondary forms. Th e primary form occurs when fertilized oocytes are released into the abdomen and implanted on the abdomen (Osenko and Tarello, 2014;Zheng et al, 2018;Vidiastuti et al, 2022). Secondary form occurs when a pregnant uterus is ruptured due to trauma or wounds and the fetuses are released into the abdominal cavity where they continue their development (Tirgari, 1986;Findik et al, 1998;Ivanova et al, 2019).…”

“…Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is based mainly using X-ray (Johnston et al, 1983;Osenko and Tarello, 2014;Mirsepehr et al, 2015), ultrasound (Findik et al, 1998;Mirsepehr et al, 2015;Vidiastuti et al, 2022) and exploratory laparotomy (Bodle, 1979;Tirgari, 1986). Nevertheless, several cases of ectopic pregnancies were recorded in cats as an accidental fi nding during routine clinical examination or radiography (Mirsepehr et al, 2015;Chong, 2017;Ivanova et al, 2019).…”