Cystadenoma in the rete ovarii in a bitch

The rete ovarii is the counterpart of the male rete testis that develops from the primary sex cords of female animals. Pathological conditions of the rete ovarii are rarely reported in dogs. This communication describes a cystadenofibroma of a rete ovarii in a 2-year-old, intact, crossbred bitch presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Peradeniya. The bitch was presented with complaints of hyporexia, constipation, purulent vaginal discharges and progressive abdominal distension for three weeks. A tentative diagnosis of pyometra with concurrent uterine cyst/neoplasia was arrived based on the clinical examination and imaging findings. An exploratory laparotomy revealed that the space of the right ovary is occupied by a large, 14 cm x 16 cm, smooth surfaced, spherical mass and ovariohysterectomy was performed. Histopathology findings of the cyst suggested a cystadenofibroma of rete ovarii. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of canine cystadenofibroma in rete ovarii in Sri Lanka.