Study of Some Physiological and Pathological Aspects of Feral Queen’s Reproductive System in Iraq

Abstract

AbstractThe present study is carried out to investigate some aspects of reproduction in Iraqi feral cats. Sixty blood samples and female genital specimens from sexually mature queens were trapped during the period from December 2008 to December 2009.During the entire study period, the results showed that incidence rate of follicular phase was 24.56 % and the highest incidence was in Winter 62.5%, while no follicular activity was noted in animals during Autumn . The hormonal assay showed that the mean of the estradiol -17ß in 14 follicular phase animals was 47.5pg/ml, while The dominance of vaginal epithelial cells in 14 estrus queens were nucleated superficial cells 61.5 %.The incidence of luteal phase was 29.82% and the highest incidence was in Spring 56.66%,and the average of corpora lutea per animal was 4.7 % and the incidence rate of pregnant queens was 19.29%,with high incidence in Summer 33.33% wih no pregnant queens was captured in Winter. The implantation rate was 86.06% and the transuterine migration of embryos was observed in incidence rate 27.27% and all transuterine migration of embryos was occurred in animals with 100% implantation rate . The maximum number of embryos that migrate was 2 /animal. The incidence rate of pseudopregnancy 11.76%, and characterized by present of active corpora lutea on ovaries , with slight enlargement of uterus and uterine tube . In all animals with diestrus the mean of plasma progesterone level was 48 ng/ml ,and the cell comprising the vaginal smear include intermediate cells 47% parabasal cells45% and nucleated cells 5% .The anestrus phase was recognized in incidence rate 36.84% and the highest incidence of anestrus phase was noted in Autumn 75%, Cells comprising the vaginal smear in anestrus queens include intermediate cells 87.9%, parabasal cells 8.6%,nucleated superficial cells 2.7% , anucleated superficial cells 0.8% .The pathological study was revealed 3 out of 60 queens with gross reproductive systems abnormalities ,with incidence rate 5% ,these cases include paraovarian cyst, follicular cysts and pyometra.