Occurrence of a vaginal septum in a foal diagnosed with pyometra

Abstract

Summary A 10‐week‐old Westphalian filly was presented for vaginal discharge of 14‐days' duration. Examination revealed a partial vaginal septum and pyometra. Two Group B streptococcal pathogens (Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis and Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus) were isolated from the uterus. Pyometra was successfully treated using endoscopically facilitated removal of intraluminal exudate and locally and systemically administered antimicrobials. The filly was reported to be progressing well at 12 months following treatment with no further evidence of disease. Pyometra has not been previously reported in foals, and vaginal septum is evidently rare in this species. These abnormalities should be considered when young fillies develop purulent vaginal discharge.

Female caudal reproductive tract abnormalities

“…angular limb deformities, wry‐nose, cleft palate); or in some cases, such as that presented by McCarthy et al . (2021), are present from birth, are only detected later in life.…”

“…Reflecting on the report by McCarthy et al . (2021), there was no record of the gonadal status of the filly involved and karyotyping was not performed. Given that we have suggested that vaginal septal remnants may have formed as a failure of the wall between the two paramesonephric ducts to dissolve one should consider whether cervical and uterine abnormalities are also present.…”

“…Endoscopic examinations performed by McCarthy et al . (2021) demonstrated a morphologically normal uterus with a body and two horns suggesting that a specific chromosomal abnormality is less likely. It is not clear from the images accompanying McCarthy et al .…”

“…It is not clear from the images accompanying McCarthy et al . (2021) report, whether the cervix, described as ‘wide‐open’, is shown as the constriction in the tubular vagina cranial to the septum or if the cervix lies beyond this region. We therefore assume it is the former and expect the cervix to be infantile given the age of the foal; however, re‐examination after puberty would be required to determine whether the cervix develops and takes on a normal form or remains infantile.…”

“…There are several factors that may have predisposed the foal in McCarthy et al . (2021) case to uterine infection and pyometra formation: The ascending placentitis diagnosed 3 weeks prepartum may have resulted in bacterial contamination of the fetal fluids and exposure of the fetus to the Group C Streptococcal pathogens, which may have subsequently colonised the fetus’ reproductive tract. Broad‐spectrum antimicrobial therapy for the placentitis was provided using trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (TMS), which is known to penetrate fetal fluids (Rebello et al 2006), but whether TMS can achieve minimum inhibitory concentration in a remote fetal uterine luminal infection is unknown.…”