Puerperal Septic Fever and Helminthosis in a 5-Year-Old German Shepherd Bitch

Abstract

Puerperium is a period post-partum characterized by physiological changes whereby the upper and lower reproductive tracts of the female genital system progressively tries to histologically and endocrinologically return to its pre-gravid state and the period is accompanied by adequate uterine tone for lochia elimination and epithelial regeneration (Voorwald and Tiosso, 2015). Normally, during puerperium the bitch exhibit initially greenish discharge (due to marginal haematoma), then serosanguinous vaginal discharge for 1–6 weeks being the time considered, as the time of normal uterine involution (Feldman and Nelson, 1986). In the first three weeks brownish, non-odorous lochia will be discharged from the vulva, gradually decreasing in volume after the first week (Von Heimendahl et al., 2009). In bitches, the normal uterine involution requires more and adequate time compared to other species due to its nature of the endothelial placentation and deep uterine wounds created at placentation sites after detachment (Al-Bassam et al., 1981). The duration of the puerperium/periparturient period in the bitch has been defined to be 12 weeks (Al-Bassam et al., 1981, Orfanou et al., 2009) or 15 weeks (Yeager et al., 1990). The Bitch, being a monoestrous, polytococcus, non-seasonal animal has a physiological anestrous stage that lasts between 15 to 30 weeks following either parturition (whelping) or diestrous which is characterized by normal quiescence of the gonads and the tubular reproductive tracts. The peripaturient period that occurs during the anaestrous stage of the reproductive/oestrous cycle of the bitch is very delicate and animals are usually susceptible to varying pathological conditions owing to stress and increased demands from the environment and the newborns. For this reason, follow-up of uterine involution is essential to ensure future reproductive capacity/fertility, since failure to complete reproductive organs regression can lead to endometritis, metritis and placental retention (Hirt et al., 2000; Magata et al., 2013). Many assumptions were raised due to lots of biological activities such as nursing of the puppies, uterine involution, milk production and hormonal changes that take place during postpartum period. Thus, bitches are supposed to be more susceptible to pathologic conditions and therefore, it is important to monitor vital functions, appetite and behaviour of postpartum bitches on a daily basis to enable early detection of illness (Grundy and Davidson, 2004). Increase demand in lactation/milk production may predispose the bitch to hypocalcaemia (puerperal tetany) during this period and also a few days post whelping the cervix is physiologically open, paving ways for ascending uterine infection by pyogenic microbes which may lead to septicemia. Thus, a good health surveillance by both the owners and veterinarians is of paramount significance.
Infestation of the gastro-intestinal tract and other organs of the animal body by both the adult and immature stages of endo-parasitic helminths is well documented in dogs, especially in newly whelped or neonates and it constitute one of the main causes of pathologies of the intestinal tract in dogs (Blagburn et al., 1996). The life cycle of the many occurring canine helminth species usually involved a vertical transmission from the dam to her offspring. The route of vertical transmission can be: prenatal (e.g Toxocara canis), lactogenic (e.g Ancylostoma caninum, Strongyloides stercoralis) or via coprophagy (Echinococcus multilocularis, Filaroides hirthi, Oslems osleri). Hypobiosis or developmental arrest allows for certain and specific life-cycle stages of the helminthic parasites (mostly L3) to be temporary in-activated in the somatic tissues of the host until the condition for survival is conducive. Such occurs mostly during pregnancy or when the immunity of the host is severely compromised (Shoop, 1999). The L3 re-activates during gestation and is transmitted to the offspring or neonates via milk during puerperal period, the parasites then infest the intestinal tract of the neonates and cause pathologies such as protein loss, diarrhea, obstruction of lumen, iron-deficiency anaemia (especially hook worms) and mortality in unattended condition (Cromptom, 1989).