MAMMARY tumours rarely develop in horses or other herbivores (Feldman 1929, Moulton 1990, and most reports of mammary carcinoma in the mare refer only to single cases (Schmahl 1972, Acland and Gillette 1982, Munson 1987, Foreman and others 1990. However, Seahorn and others (1992) reported mammary carcinomas in four mares. This short communication describes three cases of mammary carcinoma in mares which were diagnosed at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dublin, over a 10-year period, and confirms that the prognosis for survival is poor despite surgical resection of the affected gland.A 12-year-old, non-pregnant, non-lactating, thoroughbred mare presented with ventral oedema and a painful enlargement of the left mammary gland with an ulcerated surface which discharged purulent material. The left mammary gland was amputated and weighed 7 kg. The wound healed well. Five months later, the right mammary gland was enlarged and indurated with ulceration of the skin surface. The gland was surgically removed and weighed 2 kg. The owner reported that the mare died 10 months later but a postmortem examination was not performed.A 13-year-old, non-lactating, non-pregnant, Irish draught mare in poor condition presented with a hard painful swelling of the right mammary gland and with oedema of the ventral abdomen and hindlimbs. Prolonged antibiotic therapy was ineffective. Following examination of a fine needle aspirate, the right mammary gland was surgically removed and weighed 4 kg. Wound healing was delayed and the mare continued to lose weight. One month later, the left mammary gland was indurated, the ventral oedema was increased, and the mare was subsequently euthanased.A 15-year-old, non-lactating, thoroughbred mare, in poor condition and six months pregnant, presented with a large, painful, ulcerated mass involving both mammary glands and of two months duration. There was a marked ventral oedema and the mare walked stiffly. Following fine needle aspiration (FNA) the mare was euthanased.Haematological examination revealed a neutrophilia with moderate leucocytosis in cases 2 and 3; hyperglobulinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia were present in all three cases. Cytological examination of the fine needle aspirate from case 2 showed clusters of pleomorphic, basQphilic epithelial cells, some vacuolated with occasional prominent nucleoli (Fig 1). On FNA, case 3 showed clusters of plump basophilic epithelial cells, some of which were arranged in acinar formation. Cytoplasmic vacuolation, anisocytosis, anisonucleosis, marked chromatin clumping, nuclear moulding and large multiple nucleoli were apparent.On postmortem examination, the left superficial inguinal lymph glands in case 2 appeared markedly enlarged and a hard nodular mass extended via the left inguinal canal up into the pelvic canal. Nodular masses were located within the broad ligament of the uterus and the skeletal muscle of the inguinal canal. Case 3 presented a single large, firm mass weighing 10 kg, which obliterated the normal architecture of both glands. Cross-sect...

Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a widely reported transplantable tumor in dogs, with no breed or sex predilection and with a low metastatic rate. This retrospective study conducted from 2005 and 2011 sought to evaluate the total number of TVT cases, and to report extragenital TVT lesions in dogs from the small tropical island of Grenada, West Indies. Evaluation of the biopsy and necropsy specimens from dogs with TVT was carried out by cytological and histopathological methods. In the present study, we observed a total of 78 dogs with TVT, comprising 40 male and 38 female dogs. Most cases were from dogs between 3 and 6 years; less frequently from older dogs (over 6 years) or younger dogs (1-2 years of age). In the present study, we report 15 cases (19.2%) of dogs with TVT in extragenital sites. Tumors were noted in the nasal cavity, eye orbit, spleen, liver, skin, ribs, subcutaneous, and submandibular, cervical and inguinal lymph nodes. There was also evidence of metastasis to the ovaries in 2 dogs. The most interesting finding was the presence of extragenital lesions without primary genital involvement in 4 cases (5.1%). Our findings emphasize the need to consider TVT on the list of differential diagnosis for masses in extragenital sites in dogs from geographic regions where TVT is prevalent.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of trans-scrotal ultrasonography and testicular fine needle aspiration cytology in assessing bulls for breeding suitability. These two techniques were also compared with semen analysis. Bulls presented for breeding soundness evaluation were assessed using all three techniques. The findings of each technique were compared. There was agreement in classification of fertile bulls using all three techniques, suggesting that the combined use of these techniques enhances routine breeding soundness examination. Use of the three techniques also enhances detailed investigation of suspected sub-fertile bulls while accurately identifying testicular cause(s) of sire sub-fertility.

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