Endometrial hyperplasia and pyometra in captive lions (Panthera leo) and tigers (Panthera tigris)

Abstract

Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is a pathologic condition of the uterus with increased endometrial gland to stroma ratio compared to normal cyclic uterine proliferation. In domestic animals, EH often involves cystic distension of proliferating endometrial glands and may be concurrent with pyometra. In large captive nondomestic felids, an association between EH and pyometra is common; however, detailed species differences between the histological uterine findings in lions ( Panthera leo) and tigers ( Panthera tigris) and clinical manifestations have yet to be described. Uterine sections from 14 lions and 24 tigers with EH and/or pyometra were scored for several histological parameters and clinical histories were recorded. The percentage of endometrium affected by hyperplasia, endometrial gland to stroma ratio, and adenomyosis were significantly ( P = .0385, P = .0008, and P = .0463, respectively) more severe in lions compared to tigers as univariate analytes. Although tubular complexity was not statistically significant ( P = .3254), when combined as a proposed EH grading scheme, these 4 features confirmed lions had significantly ( P = .0068) more severe EH compared to tigers. Endometrial hyperplasia severity significantly correlated with inflammation/pyometra severity when controlling for species ( P = .0203). A significant correlation exists between pyometra-associated clinical sign severity and the presence of pyometra in tigers, ( P = .0026) but not in lions ( P = .1144). There was no statistical difference in the severity of clinical signs associated with pyometra between these species ( P = .1986). This proposed grading scheme may have clinical utility in providing a more consistent and objective evaluation of EH in large captive felids.