NABOTHIAN AND ENDOMETRIAL CYSTS IN A BUFFALO

Case ReportBuffalo Bulletin (December 2011) Vol.30 No.4NABOTHIAN AND ENDOMETRIAL CYSTS IN A BUFFALOM. Pande, F.A. Khan, G.K. Das, J.K. Prasad and S.K. GhoshABSTRACTThis short communication aims to puton record a rare case of coexisting nabothian andendometrial cysts in a water buffalo.Keywords: cervical cyst, endometrial cyst,buffaloINTRODUCTIONNabothian cysts are mucus filled tinylumps seen on the surface of cervix. The conditionhas been reported infrequently in buffaloes (Rao,1991). Apart from the cervix, cysts have beenreported in other portions of the genital tractincluding endometrium in livestock (Paccamontiand Pycock, 2009). These cystic affections of genitaltract may lead to infertility in the species, alreadybeset with many inherent problems in reproduction(Das and Khan, 2010). The objective of the presentcommunication is to report a case of nabothian andendometrial cysts in a water buffalo.CASE HISTORY AND OBSERVATIONA case of nabothian and endometrial cystswas observed in a buffalo genital tract procuredfrom a local slaughter house, Bareilly, UP. An ovalcyst of cervix with a larger diameter of 2.7 cm anda smaller diameter of 1.6 cm, containing cloudywhite coloured mucoid fluid was seen at the internalos (Figure. 1). The cyst appeared to block thelumen of the cervix. Further investigation revealedthe presence of tiny (0.5-2.5 mm diameter), whitecoloured fluid filled cysts throughout the uterus(Figure 2). The cysts were uniformly distributed onboth uterine horns, particularly over the carunclesand to a lesser extent in the inter-caruncularregion.DISCUSSIONThe buffalo has a high productivepotential but its productivity is limited by severalreproductive problems leading to infertility (Dasand Khan, 2010). Infertile buffaloes become aneconomic liability for the farmer and are more oftenthan not culled or slaughtered. Cystic affections ofthe genital tract contribute to infertility in animals.Cervical cysts varying in size from 1.25-1.75 cm indiameter have been reported previously in buffalowith larger cysts being even palpated per-rectallyas movable or fluctuating masses in the cervix(Rao, 1991).The cervix acts as a barrier betweenthe uterine lumen and the external environmentAnimal Reproduction Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly (U.P.) - 243122,India219

Buffalo Bulletin (December 2011) Vol.30 No.4Figure 1. Cervical cyst in a buffalo genital tract.Figure 2. Endometrial cysts in the uterus of a buffalo.and is more vulnerable to both infections andtrauma owing to its proximity to the environment.Although the etiology of cervical cysts has not yetbeen elucidated, trauma during parturition, artificialinsemination and obstetrical intervention maybe responsible for development of the condition(Schlafer and Miller, 2007). Cervical cyst havebeen associated with infertility in the species(Naidu et al., 2009), and mechanical interferencewith the sperm transport into the uterus may be oneof the plausible reasons. Further, such cysts mayalso prevent proper closure of the cervix duringpregnancy (Rao, 1991) predisposing the uterus toascending infections and subsequent pregnancyloss.Endometrial cysts are often cited as a causeof infertility although a cause and effect relationshiphas yet to be established. However, they may beconsidered as an indication of the underlyingpathological changes in the uterus (Paccamonti220

Buffalo Bulletin (December 2011) Vol.30 No.4and Pycock, 2009). Moreover, keeping in view theimportance of the uterine endometrium in earlyembryonic development, it can be contemplatedthat the presence of endometrial cysts mayinterfere with the implantation and early embryonicdevelopment thus causing infertility. The presenceof Nabothian and endometrial cysts in the presentcase may possibly have led to infertility resultingin the culling and slaughter of the animal.REFERENCESDas, G.K. and F.A. Khan. 2010. Summer anoestrusin buffalo - a review. Reprod. Domest. Anim.,doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01598.xNaidu, G.V., M. Murugan, M. Srinivas and S.Adlak. 2009. Management of a cervical cystin a graded Murrah buffalo. Buffalo Bull., 28:214.Paccamonti, D. and J. Pycock. 2009. Infertility andsubfertility in mare, p. 614-616. In Noakes,D.E., T.J. Parkinson and G.C.W. England.Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, 9 thed. Saunders Elsevier, London, UK.Rao, A.R. 1991. Reproductive disorders in IndianLivestock, 1 st ed. Everest Press, New Delhi,India. p. 30-31.Schlafer, D.H. and R.B. Miller. 2007. Femalegenital system, p. 538. In Maxie M. Grant.Jubb, Kennedy amd Palmer’s Pathology ofDomestic Animals, Vol. 3, 5 th ed. SaundersElsevier, USA.221