Laparoscopic drainage of an ovarian haematoma in a Martina Franca jenny (Equus asinus)

An 11-year-old Martina Franca jenny (Equus Asinus), involved in a breed recovery programme organised by the Puglia Region, was referred to the University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital for a mass formation detected on the surface of the right ovary. The subject had regular oestrous cycles, but gestation loss was reported in the anamnesis. The ovarian mass was monitored by transrectal palpation and ultrasonography. In the differential diagnosis, an ovarian haematoma, a haemorrhagic anovulatory follicle and a granulosa cell tumour were hypothesised; a surgical resolution with laparoscopic access was chosen. During surgery, about 750 ml of haemorrhagic fluid was drained, confirming the suspect of the ovarian haematoma. After resolution, the jenny was inseminated, eventually giving birth to a live and viable foal. Usually, an ovarian haematoma spontaneously regresses, but, in this report, the lesion remained stable for more than two months, leading to the decision of the surgical resolution. Furthermore, to the authors’ knowledge, this lesion has never been reported in donkeys.