Chronic endometritis in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).
A 48-yr-old female Asian elephant with a history of pododermatitis developed recurrent hematuria beginning in 2002. Transrectal ultrasonography and endoscopic examination in 2004 identified the uterus as the source of hematuria and excluded hemorrhagic cystitis. Treatment with Desloreline implants, antibiotics, and homeopathic drugs led to an improved general condition of the elephant. In July 2005, the elephant was suddenly found dead. During necropsy, the severely enlarged uterus contained about 250 L of purulent fluid, and histopathology revealed ulcerative suppurative endometritis with high numbers of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus and Escherichia coli identified on aerobic culture. Additional findings at necropsy included: multifocal severe pododermatitis, uterine leiomyoma, and numerous large calcified areas of abdominal fat necrosis. Microbiologic culture of the pododermatitis lesion revealed the presence of Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus, Staphylococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp., and Entercoccus sp.
Aupperle
Heike
H
Institut für Veterinär-Pathologie, An den Tierkliniken 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. aupperle@rz.uni-leipzig.de
Reischauer
Anne
A
Bach
Franz
F
Hildebrandt
Thomas
T
Göritz
Frank
F
Jäger
Kathrin
K
Scheller
Regina
R
Klaue
Hans-Jörg
HJ
Schoon
H A
HA
D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004606:Elephants; D004716:Endometritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D006417:Hematuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D018231:Leiomyomatosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D018502:Streptococcus equi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary