CYSTIC UROGENITAL ANOMALIES IN FERRETS (MUSTELA-PUTORIUS-FURO)

Single or multiple semispherical to bilobulated fluid-filled cystic st ructures of variable size were observed on the dorsal aspects of the u rinary bladder of four male and two female ferrets (Mustela putorius S ure). All ferrets had been neutered. On physical examination, the cyst s were palpated as caudal abdominal masses. Three of the six ferrets p resented with dysuria, and two ferrets had signs compatible with endoc rine dysfunction. Adrenal cortical hyperplasia or neoplasia were obser ved in all of the five ferrets examined. Sex hormones assayed in one o f the six ferrets revealed elevated levels of serum estrodiol. The pos terior aspect of the cysts was located on and/or attached to the trigo ne or neck of the bladder, with variable intraluminal communication wi th the bladder and/or the urethra. The anterior aspect of the cysts pr ojected dorsally or dorsocranially into the caudal abdomen. The cysts were thin walled and contained urinelike fluid (n = 5) or viscous yell ow fluid (n = 1). Histologically, the cyst walls were composed of thre e layers, epithelium, muscle, and serosa, with fibrovascular stroma be tween layers. The epithelium consisted of simple to stratified transit ional, columnar, or squamous epithelial cells. The muscular layer cons isted of intermittent bundles and/or single to double layers of contin uous to discontinuous smooth muscle. The serosal layer consisted of lo ose fibrous stroma covered by flattened mesothelial cells. The cystic anomalies in these ferrets were most likely derived from the urogenita l glands/ducts or other remnants.