Acute Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and Sertoli Cell Tumour in an Eleven-Year-Old Dachshund Cross-Bred Dog

Abstract

An eleven-year-old Dachshund cross-bred dog was presented to the Small Animal Clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary  Teaching Hospital, Zaria, with complaints of reduced appetite noticed 2 days earlier, and an enlarged testis was noticed three months prior to presentation. Clinical diagnosis was based on history of reduced appetite and enlarged testis; physical findings such as pyrexia, tick infestation, congested ocular mucous membranes, generalized enlarged superficial lymph nodes, enlargement of the mammary glands, alopecia, atrophy of the right testis and discoloration of the scrotum with large, firm palpable mass; complete blood count revealed slight anaemia (PCV 34 %, neutrophilia (12.88 x 10⁹/L) and presence of band cells (0.32 x 10⁹/L); buffy coat smear showed the presence of intracytoplasmic morulae in just one monocyte in the peripheral blood smear; Ehrlichia canis antibodies was detected in serum using Ehrlichia test kit (immunochromatography); serum oestradiol-17β (42.05 pg/mL) and anti- Müllerian hormone (AMH; 25.50 μg/mL) were employed as serum tumour markers; transverse and longitudinal scrotal sonographs revealed diffuse non-homogenous tissues with increase in the echogenicity of the testicles; radiographic findings of thoraco-abdomino-pelvic regions revealed normal organ opacity indicating absence of metastases. Tissue samples were taken from the tumor following surgical excision and submitted for histopathology. The findings were large cytoplasmic vacuoles with slightly irregular nucleoli. It was confirmed to be sertoli cell tumor. The conditions were managed medically, and by surgical excision of the tumour and scrotal ablation. Outcome was successful, and patient started feeding 24 hours after the surgery.

Key words: Castration; Buffy coat smear; Tumour markers; Testicular tumour; Scrotal ablation