USO DE CONTRACEPTIVOS COMO CAUSA DE MALFORMAÇÕES FETAIS EM FILHOTES DE GATA

Abstract

Malformations are functional and structural abnormalities of organs, tissues and / or systems. Among the extrinsic factors is drug intoxication (progestogen), because the chemical substance that has the capacity to modify cellular function or to present cytotoxicity has teratogenic potential. The objective of this work is to describe a case of fetal malformations in a cat due to the use of contraceptives diagnosed at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Areia-PB. A three-year-old mixed breed female feline, weighing 4.2 kg, was treated with a history of vaginal discharge and distorted three days ago. In addition, the owner reports that she made continuous use of injectable contraceptives. During the clinical evaluation, there was abdominal distention and secretion in the perivulvar region. Blood count and abdominal ultrasound were requested. The abdominal ultrasonography in the ventrodorsal position showed the uterus with three fetuses, with visualization of the ribs, lumbar spine, cervical and thoracic spine, thorax, skull, lungs, liver, stomach, urinary vesicle, kidneys, motile intestines and cardiac chambers and low amniotic fluid. The suggested gestational age was approximately 62 days. Thus, the animal was referred to the surgical center for cesarean section and ovariosalpingohisterectomy (OSH). During the surgical procedure it was observed that the fetuses presented malformations. Two were stillborn and one was alive during surgery and died afterwards. They were sent to necropsy. The first fetus was stillborn, female, and palatosequence and diffuse congestion of the subcutaneous tissue were observed. The second fetus observed was male was alive, died after arthrogryposis of carpi, bifid skull, meningocele and cleft palate. The third stillborn male had arthrogryposis of the pelvic limbs, cleft palate, bifid skull, pulmonary, hepatic and cerebellar hypoplasia, absence of urinary vesicle and spleen and schistosomus reflexus with externalisation of the liver, intestines, kidneys and adrenals. To conclude the diagnosis, blood (serum) was collected from the mother for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FelV) and feline panleucopenia virus were collected, with negative results. It was concluded that malformations were caused by prolonged contraceptive use by the mother.