5 Defects of Cervix, Vagina and External Genitalia

Transcript

Dear Veterinarians, Good day!

At the last class we have discussed Freemartinism and intersexes and in this class today we are going to discuss about Defects of the Cervix, Vagina, and External Genitalia.

The first one is the Double External OS of Cervix: So, in this condition of uterus didelphys, failure of fusion is complete, so there is a double cervix, and each uterine horn connects with the vagina by a separate cervical canal already we have discussed.

Such animals may conceive, provided that the insemination takes place into the horn ipsilateral to the ovulation.

A more common lesion is partial duplication of the cervical canal, often with a single internal ostium and double external Ostia.

Affected animals conceive normally, but may show dystocia due to fetal limbs entering into both cervical canals; the expulsion is very difficult, so the dystocia maybe a sister one, then only we can able to relieve the foetus. Similar complications may arise in the cattle showing dorsoventral post cervical band also.

So, you can see this image and you can appreciate the presence of a double external OS. The cervical canal assumes the configuration of the Y shape. So, this image (2nd image), you can see the true double cervix, so there is two separate cervical OS, and it is connected with the two separate uterine horn, so this is a true double cervix.

Double Pseudocervix and lack of cervical rings:

So other anomalies of the bovine cervix may include.

• a short cervix with one or more transverse rings missing,
• a lack of development of the cervical ring also

So, 1-3% of heifers may have a tortuous, sharply curved cervix or a hypertrophied transverse cervical ring so that artificial insemination. In collegial language, we usually called tilt cervix, so the cervix may be bent, in such cases we usually advise for natural cervix, so that the animal will get conceived and is followed by the normal parturition may also be taken place. In heifers with a short or underdeveloped cervix, infertility is often due to endometritis, because whatever secretion is there, it may be accumulated and because of the short cervix it may not be closed completely so the even microorganism from the vagina may travel through the cervix and that way the animal may develop endometritis.

So, the bent, tortuous, or stenotic cervix often is filled with thick mucus, and infertility may be associated with the inability of large numbers of spermatozoa to traverse the cervical canal, See the image of double psuedocervix So in that, you can absorb the presence of two external OS and connect with a normal external OS which will enter in the common tube to the uterine body, so during embryonic development, the anterior portion of the paramesonephric duct fails to fuse creating two pseudo externals cervical opening which connected by an antechamber with a normal external OS of the cervix and in this image(2nd image) you can see the absence of the transverse fold or cervical rings, so you know the cervical rings play a vital role for the close of this cervix, if it is getting absent, the particular affected case may be very well prone for the development of endometritis. So next one is Cervicitis and Fibroma of Cervix: Cervicitis and Fibroma of Cervix, so these are some of the acquired lessons of the cervix. So, cervicitis is almost invariably accompanied by puerperal metritis and is common in cases of delayed involution of the uterus or power retention of the placenta or after birth.

Tumors of the cervix occur very occasionally, especially Leiomyomas and fibromas are the most common encountered tumors, from these pictures, so you can realize the presence of a tumor. And cervicitis, so you can see the enlarged cervix is a very common sequel after postpartum complications.

The next one is the Developmental defect of the Vagina: so, the Developmental defect of the Vagina is largely limited to the partially persistent or imperforate hymen. Obliteration of the caudal portion of the vagina. the persistence of the median wall of the paramesonephric duct in the cranial portion of the vagina.

Most commonly seen as a fleshy band, just caudal to the external os of the cervix or as a median septum extending 3 to 6 inches caudally resulting in a septate vagina associated with a double cervix. These defects are also probably hereditary in nature, although a few may be congenital.

The Developmental Defects-Infantile and hypoplastic vulva:

Rectovaginal constriction (RCV), Anovestibular Stenosis or an infantile, hypoplastic, and small vulva, all are some developmental defects of the vagina. The vulva was so small that during parturition, the animal will end up with dystocia, so in such condition, the episiotomy operation is necessary to relieve the dystocia, so the episiotomy involves the dissection of the vulva lips to expand the birth passage so that the delivery is easy, so in such cases, if we failed to do the episiotomy, we cannot able to do it or the episiotomy is failed means or we can go for Caesarion section, so it is necessary for such condition.

Copulation and defecation can occur, but rectal examinations in both bulls and cows and the parturition in affected cows cannot occur and they may end up with dystocia. A strong band of connective tissue causes stenosis or constriction in the vulva, which encircles both the anus and vestibule.

So, another one is Abnormal Wolffian or Gartner’s duct:

So Abnormalities of Gartner ducts, which are vestiges of the primitive Wolffian or mesonephric ducts in the embryo are rather common in the cow. It is not known whether these defects are hereditary. In hyperkeratosis due to chlorinated naphthalene poisoning- the Gartner’s ducts become greatly enlarged due to the metaplastic changes in the epithelial lining of the ducts. Normally, these ducts are located beneath the mucosa of the floor of the vagina. They are two in number and are usually difficult to detect. The duct may develop multiple cysts along its course towards the cervix or form a long, sometimes rather coiled or cordlike range from 0.5-1.5 centimeter in diameter, which is distended with fluid.

In these images, you can very well recognize accumulated fluid and the duct is accumulated so you can very well recognize the Cystic Gartner’s duct in the floor of the vagina.

Abnormal Wolffian or Gartner’s ducts:

In rare instances, infection of the duct may occur with small abscesses forming along its course. The ducts may be incised freely, if necessary, to correct these abnormalities, but in most cases, they are ignored as they do not affect fertility. There may be present in rare cases a cul-de-sac extending forward 5-7 centimeters on either side of the urethral opening. This may be small and admit one finger or less, or it may be large admitting 3-4 fingers. This cul-de-sac represents an abnormally large terminus of Gartner’s duct and may interfere with coitus.

So next one is Atresia of Vulva:

An abnormally small vulva has been described as a cause of dystocia in some breeds like Friesian and Jersey heifers. In such cases, episiotomy or Caesarean operation may be required to allow delivery. The defects have been seen to affect many of the progeny of particular Jersey bull indicating that it is likely to be hereditary in origin. It is occasionally seen in newborn calves in conjunction with atresia ani also.

Next is Urovagina:

Vaginal urine pooling or Eurovagina is the condition in which the urine accumulates in the anterior part of the vagina, so it leads to inflammation of both the cervix and vagina. It may extend into the uterus, causing endometritis also. Stretching of the suspensory apparatus of the genital tract as a result of several pregnancies may be a factor for causing urovagina. It is diagnosed at the time of post-calving examination.

Tumors of the Vagina and Vulva: Some of the tumors like Fibropapilloma in the vulva are common in cattle, Lymphosarcoma in the vagina are found occasionally, meta in or carbon and lymphosarcoma, occasionally found in the vagina. A squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva occurs in unpigmented areas of the skin of the cattle that are exposed to high levels of solar radiation. Warts and melanomas are occasionally seen on the perineum. So, you can see Fibropapilloma in the vulva and Lymphosarcoma in the vaginal area also.

So Acquired Lesion of the Vagina, Vestibule, and Vulva:

These acquired lesions during obstetrical operations especially laceration of the perineum, sometimes it may be impaired fertility especially in affected cows and Second-degree perineal lacerations sometimes lead to pneumovagina if the confirmation of the vulva is compromised. The surgical correction of such malconformation of the vulva is possible by performing Caslick’s operation, in that you can correct the pneumovagina also. Dystocia and severe calving trauma- a third-degree perineal rupture at calving. So third-degree perennial rupture may be a more complicated one. So probably the animal will end up with the infertile one, so this is about acquired lesions of the vagina, vestibule, and vulva.

Summary of Day five lectures. We have discussed:

Double external os of the cervix, Double pseudo cervix and lack of cervical rings, Cervicitis and Fibroma of cervix, Developmental defects of the vagina, Developmental defects like infantile, hypoplastic vulva, Abnormal Wolffian or Gartner’s ducts, Atresia of the vulva, Urovagina, Tumours of the vagina and vulva, and Acquired lesions of the vagina, Vestibule, and Vulva.

So, in a nutshell we have discussed some of the congenital lesions of the ovary like ovarian hyperplasia, ovarian agenesis, and ovarobursal adhesions, oophoritis. So, this is about the overall view of the congenital or acquired lesions of the entire reproductive tract, which causes infertility in bovines.

So, thank you very much everyone and my dear veterinarian, and if you have any questions or queries you, please put a message on my number or to my mail ID.

Thank you once again, thank you very much!