Vaginitis in Animals
Vaginitis in animals is the inflammation of the vagina.
Vaginitis in Animals is also known as Contagious vesicular vaginitis, vesicular exanthema or bull burn.
Vaginitis in Cows
Etiology
- May occur secondary to metritis.
- Urogavina or pneumovagina may result in vaginitis.
- May follow traumatic obstetric operations.
- Infections causes include infection of IBR-IPV virus and the other bovine venereal diseases.
- If the vulval sphincter is damaged persistent vaginitis, cervicitis and possibly metritis may result.
- Coitus by an infected bull.
Clinical signs
Range from cloudy mucous discharge and hyperemia of the vaginal mucosa to necrosis of the vaginal mucosa accompanied by tenemus, cellulitis and septicemia.
Treatment
- Removal of the cause of irritation
- Systemic antibiotic therapy
- Surgical correction of the vulvar defects
Nodular or Granular Vaginitis
Nodular or Granular Vaginitis is characterized by the presence on the vulval and vaginal mucosa of small nodular or granular elevations, 1-2 mm. in diameter, surrounded by a congested base and generally having a linear arrangement.
The condition is transmitted by coitus, and that the bull may suffer from a similar nodular balanoposthitis. The streptococcus and streptococci as the cause, but they are pathogenic.
Of recent years T. fetus infection, the evidence is quite inconclusive and it have reported a peculiar “rasp-like” feeling of the vaginal mucosa in infected animals.
There is no satisfactory evidence that lymphoid elevations on the glans penis of the bull are the outcome of infection either by protozoa, bacteria or viruses.
Numerous forms of treatment have been recommended: irrigation with such agents as zinc sulphate, 1-200; iodine, 1-1000 ; acriflavine, 1-1000.
Vaginitis in Mares
Vaginitis due to a variety of infections is commonly observed in mares. The vagina is more resistant to irritation and permanent damage caused by infections than does the cervix and uterus.
In severe metritis and cervicitis with a catarrhal exudate the vagina is usually involved. Mares that develop the habit of pneumovagina usually exhibit vaginitis often with mucopurulent exudate.
Fecal material and urine may usually be seen in the cranial part of the vagina.
Injuries, trauma, lacerations or severe infections of the vulva and vagina at parturition may cause chronic vaginitis, pnemovagina and in some cases stenosis of the vagina.
Occasionally the cloudy, turbid light coloured urine of the mare may be confused with vaginitis. Cystitis may develop secondary to vaginitis or metritis.
Vaginitis in Sows
Vulvovaginitis, characterised by swelling of the vulva with mucus discharge, enlarged mammary glands and occassional prolapse of the rectum commonly occurs due to feeding of mouldy corn or barley in which estrogenic compounds were present.
A mycotoxin from F.graminearum caused vulvovaginitis, vaginal prolapse, perineal relaxation, and ovarian atrophy in young guilts. The action of mycotoxin was identical to estrogen.
Vaginitis in Dogs
Juvenile or Puppy vaginitis
Juvenile, or puppy, vaginitis is defined as vaginitis in bitches less than 1 year of age and may be seen in females as young as 8 weeks of age.
Juvenile vaginitis may be an incidental finding during physical examination in puppies with vulvar discharge.
Vulvar discharge is almost scant and mucoid to copious and mucopurulent. Presence of vaginal irritation is variable.
Affected bitches usually are not systemically ill. Cytology of the vaginal discharge usually consists of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, with or without bacteria.
Treatment with antibiotics, either topically or systematically, may not be successful. Antibiotic treatment is warranted if the vaginal discharge is cytologically purulent or the bitch is showing signs of discomfort, such as excessive licking of the vulva.
Antibiotic choice should be based on culture and sensitivity testing of a sample retrieved from the cranial vagina, and should be continued for 4 weeks.
Conservative treatment is indicated for bitches with juvenile vaginitis that is not causing the bitch discomfort. Allowing bitches with juvenile vaginitis to go through an estrous cycle may hasten resolution.
Adult-Onset vaginitis
Adult-onset vagintis occurs, by definition, in bitches greater than 1 year of age. It is termed chronic if it has been present for greater than 1 month.
Vulvar discharge is the most common , pollakiuria, pain when urinating, and vulvar licking. polyuria/polydipsia, urinary incontinence, pruritus, and infertility, none of which are signs of vaginitis but instead reflect concurrent disease.
On physical examination, vulvar discharge, Vulvar hyperaemia, Follicular lesions in the vaginal mucosa, Localized erythema at the urethral papilla or within the clitoral fossa may be present. Vaginoscopic examination may reveal presence of congenital vaginal abnormalities, vaginal neoplasia, or foreign body.
commonly E.coli, Streptococcus species, and Staphylococcus intermedius, all of which are normal vaginal flora in the bitch.
Vaginitis may occur in animals infected with B.canis or canine herpesvirus.
Complete blood count (CBC) and serum chemistry profile usually are normal is bitches with vagnitis. Changes in the CBC, serum chemistry profile, or urinalysis may help pinpoint a primary disease process, such as diabetes mellitus is strongly recommended for all bitches with persistent vulvar discharge.
Vaginitis must be differentiated from disease uterine stump and urinary tract diseases; bitches with any of these condition may present with vular discharge.
Systematic therapy is preferable to topical treatment. Antibiotic choice should be based on culture and sensitivity testing and should be continued for 4 weeks.
Vaginal douches with antibiotics or antiseptic agents are ineffective.
Treatment with low doses of oral estrogen (diethylstilbestrol (DES; 1mg daily per as for dogs greater than 20 pounds ,0.5 mg daily per os for dogs less than 20 pounds for 7 days, tapering the dose over 2 weeks and maintaining lifelong therapy with the minimal affective dose) may be beneficial.
Primary vaginitis may be caused by infection with Brucella canis or Canine Herpesivirus.
Secondary vaginitis may occur subsequent to vaginal atrophy following OHE, to urine or mucus pooling with a congenital vaginal anomaly, to therapy with drugs such as mibolerone, to the presence of a vaginal neoplasm or foreign body, or secondary to urinary tract disease or systematic disease, such as diabetes mellitus.
Vaginitis in Queen Cats
Primary vaginitis is rare in the cat.
Clinical signs include pollakirueia, dysuria, frequent cleaning of the vulva, and vulvar discharge. Diagnosis is made by inspection, culture, and biopsy of the vaginal mucosa using a natoscope spectulum in the anesthetized cat.
Primary vaginitis is reported to be rare and self-limiting, with no treatment indicated; secondary vaginitis may occur following obstetric or coital trauma, pyometra, or viral rhinotracheitis infection.
Differential diagnoses include urinary tract disorder, pyometra, or uterine stump granuloma, which are ruled out on the basis of urinalysis (cystocentesis sample) and palpation, radiographic and ultrasonic inflammation.
