Breeding Soundness Examination Flashcards
describe the purpose and components of a breeding soundness exam
purpose: assess ability to establish pregnancy
via
- quality and quantity spermatozoa
- libido and mating ability
- physical defects or lesions
- venereal disease
- heritable defects
when to perform BSE?
- pre-purchase exam
- insurance exam
- pre-breeding season
- subfertility/infertility
- to predict “book size” (how many mares can breed)
describe stallion BSE components
- general and repro history
- general physical exam
-blood testing: EIA, EVA - repro physical exam
-penile, scrotal, +/- ASG, inguinal rings - culture
- breeding behavior/libido
- semen collection
- semen eval
describe canine BSE components
- general and repro history
- general physical exam: brucella serology
- repro physical exam: penile, scrotal, and prostate
- breeding behavior/libido
- semen eval
describe components of a GOOD history for BSE
- age and current use
- previous foaling (of whelping) rate, conception rate, services per contraception
-influenced by type of breeding, semen handling, and mare handling - history of illness or infectious disease?
-previous and current meds? ask MULTIPLE times - intended use
describe general PE for BSE
- positive/permanent ID?
- abnormalities that may affect ability to mate
-MSK pain: hock, stifle, back pain
-neurological deficits: wobblers or EPM - heritable conditions:
-cryptorchids, parrot mouth, wobblers, exostosis, HYPP, etc.
describe scrotal exam for BSE
- visual inspection of skin:
-dermatitis, lacerations, insect bites, edema - manual palpation: mobility (should move freely within vaginal tunic), symmetry, shape, tone
- ultrasound: homogenous echotexture of parenchyma, epididymis, and spermatic cord (like spleen almost)
-longitudinal axis testes horizontal to the stallion (normally)
-tail of epididymis toward tail of horse/caudal (normally)
-180 degree rotation can be normal
-testicular size: document volume or width: could increase with tumors or hydrocele
describe testicular size
- correlated with weight and daily sperm production
-varies with breed, season, and age - approx 16x10^6 sperm/gram; larger volume, expect larger daily output (no memorize number)
- width is an older measurement, volume is preferred/better
- predicted DSO (daily sperm output) related to volume
describe penile evaluation
looking for:
1. lacerations
2. tumors: SCC, melanoma
3. balanitis: frequent washing
4. habronemiasis
5. EHV-3
describe diagnostics for venereal diseases
- most stallions are asymptomatic if carrier of venereal disease or viruses
- use aerobic culture:
-immediately prior to semen collection
-normal flora: mixed growth - EVA (equine viral arteritis) testing, CEM testing
describe equine coital exanthema (EHV-3)
clinical signs:
-superficial lesions on glans and shaft +/- prepuce in stallion (and on mare’s vulva)
-reluctance to breed
diagnosis: characteristic lesions, PCR (active lesions)
treatment:
-sexual rest for 2-4 weeks
-+/- topical antiviral and SSD or nitrofurazone
prevention: no vaccine, avoid exposure
describe equine viral arteritis
transmission:
-respiratory secretions, contact with fomites, in utero infection OR IN SEMEN
-ONLY stallions can become carriers!! bc virus only lives longterm in the accessory sex glands of stallions
clinical signs:
-fever, respiratory disease, vasculitis, abortion (or asymptomatic)
diagnosis
-serology: seropositive can be from prior exposure (cleared or now carrier) OR vaccination!
-if seropositive: virus isolation or PCR of semen
treatment: mares and geldings clear virus, stallions may become carriers
-get rid of testosterone to get stallions to clear! geld a stallion, or GnRH vaccine or GnRH implant then remove once clear; worries about return to fertility
prevention:
-vaccination: yearly in kentucky
-some states have mandatory screening and vaccine programs for breeding animals
-testing before live cover or shipping semen!
describe contagious equine metritis
organism: taylorella equigenitalis (gram negative, microaerophilic bacteria)
transmission: natural breeding or artificial insemination
-can survive in chilled/frozen semen
-not native to US, more of a european disease but can come here via breeding
clinical signs:
-mares: vaginitis, cervicitis, metritis
-stallions: often asymptomatic
diagnosis:
-culture: requires specific culture swabs and sites, CONTACT LAB before submission
treatment:
-disinfectant scrubs and antimicrobials: REPORTABLE DISEASE
prevention:
-strict screening of all imported horses (FAD)
-strict biosecurity with AVs and phantoms
how do you culture during BSE?
- take from urethral fossa, penile surface, and urethra pre and post ejaculation
- transport media: Amie’s media
describe culture interpretation during BSE
acceptable/okay:
-mixed growth of:
-proteus
-staphylococcus
-aerobacter
-E.coli
-streptococcus
bad:
-pseudomonas aeruginosa
-klebsiella streptococcus
-B hemolytic streptococcu
-heavy growth of any one organism
VERY BAD: taylorella equigenitalis
describe semen collection
- artificial vagina: phantom, mare, or ground collection
-AVs: colorado, missouri (most common), brazilian - chemically induced ejaculation
NEVER electroejaculate like cattle
- avoid nose to tail contact between horses
-want gloves and disposable cup
-want helmets and a good halter
describe ejaculatory fractions of stallions
- first: pre-sperm
-origin: bulbourethral glands
-colors: watery
-function: cleans urethra - second: sperm rich
-origin: epididymis, ampulla, prostate
-color: milky, contains most spermatozoa
-high in alkaline phosphatase - third: gel
-origin: vesicular glands
-color: clear gel, washes out remaining sperm
describe why measure alkaline phosphatase
when you have a lack of ejaculation
if no ejaculate but high alk phos: you got fluid from testes but testes are not producing sperm = worst prognosis
if no ejaculate but low alk phos: not getting fluid from testes for some reason; could be
-blocked ampulla
-treatment: rectal massage, oxytocin, NSAID, frequent semen collection
if no work and still difficult collection:
-change tease mares
-pharmacologic aids: diazepam, oxytocin, imipramine (TCA that lowers ejaculatory threshlold), or NSAID (phenylbutazone, most common pharm aid)
-check timing: early in breeding season? still under influence of long acting testosterone or other homrones?
describe semen evaluation
- designed to differentiate satisfactory breeders from unsatisfactory breeders
- evaluate gel-free portion:
-volume
-gross eval
-microscopic eval: motility, morphology, concentration - calculate total sperm number
4 tells you about the LAST 70 DAYS in the stallion’s life
-spermatogenesis is 55-57d, epididymal transport is 9 days
describe gross sperm eval
- color: white/red/brown/green
- aspect: watery, cloudy, milky, creamy
- volume:
-affetced by season, teasing, number of mounts
-mean is 44mls (can be 15-200ml)
describe motliity
- place on drop on a warm slide!
- positive correlation with freezing ability and fertility
- indirectly eval membrane integrity, mitochondrial function, integrity of flagellum
- want >70% progressive motility (PM)
-correlated with fertility
-total motile sperm might be more important tho
describe sperm longevity
- should live >24hrs in mare’s repro tract
- can eval hourly until motility <10%
-if survive <6hrs = NOT GOOD - extend to 25-50 x 10^6 sperm/ml and cool
- estimates ability to survive in repro tract and need for ovulation timing
how to measure sperm concentration?
- hemocytometer: gold standard
- densimeter
- CASA: less accurate
- nucleocounter
describe sperm morphology
- use eosin nigrosin or DIC stain
- look with oil immersion (100x) phase contrast of formalin fixed cells
- want >60% normal morphology
-note types of abnormalities - ALWAYS check this!!
- effects on fertility:
-known negative effect: knobbed acrosomes, nuclear vacuoles, detached heads, distal midpiece reflex, dag defect, proximal droplets
-unknown effect: pyriform heads, coiled principle piece
-likely no effect: bent principle piece, distal droplets, abaxial tails
describe sperm cytology
- eosin and nigrosin stain, phase contrast
- diff quick: evaluate inflammatory cells and round spermatogenic cells
describe total sperm numbers
- total sperm = ejaculate volume x concentration
- total normal motile sperm:
-ejaculate volume x concentration x % motile sperm x % normal sperm - use to calculate:
-number of mares bred/ejaculate (500 million PMNS)
-daily sperm output (DSO)
-efficiency of sperm production
describe what makes a satisfactory breeder (stallion)
- normal libido and gait
- 2 scrotal testes
- no scrotal/penile lesions
- total scrotal width >8cm
- normal bacterial culture
- no heritable defects
- 75% pregnancy rate with 2 or fewer estrous cycles
FERTILITY ASSUMED FOR TIME OF EXAM ONLY
describe what makes an unsatisfactory breeder
not a pass/fail!!
- satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or questionable/deferred
- deferred? wait at least 60d to re-eval
- unsatisfactory:
-cryptorchid
-congenital defect
-end stage testicular degeneration
describe canine BSE
- visual
- palpation:
-scrotal edema, dermatitis, insect bites, or scars
-two testes, descended by 6 months
-testes freely moveable, non-painful
-epididymis - ultrasound: echogenicity, size
describe penile evaluation of dogs
- musculocavernosus: bulbus glandis = expansion of corpus spongiousum
- examine for normal anatomy
-hypoplastic
-hypospadias - free of lesions: TVT, vesicular lesions
- free of discharge
describe canine prostatic evaluation
the ONLY accessory sex gland in the dog
- bilobed, symmetric, non-painful, at brim of pelvis = normal
- digital rectal palpation:
-only evaluates caudal aspect of gland
-low sensitivity
-subclinical disease 75% dog - ultrasound
describe scrotal width in dogs
varies by weight, see chart for life
describe semen collection/fractions in the dog
1st fraction/pre-sperm: 0.5- >3ml; clear, no sperm
2nd fraction/sperm rich: 0.5-2ml, cloudy/white
3rd/prostatic: 0.5-80ml, clear, few sperm
-lots prostatic fluid to push cranial to cervix; more not rly better for collection just more prostatic fluid which could actually kill sperm
method:
-manual stimulation
-teaser bitch or estrus swabs helps
-apply sterile lube post collection to prevent inversion of prepuce or irritation
determine if complete collection:
-test alk phos
if complete, will be >10,000units/liter
describe canine semen eval
just like stallion, but
pH should be 6.2-7.0
if basic, could indicate urine contamination
describe canine semen quality
generally much better than LA in terms of motility and morphology
color and aspect: white and cloudy
volume: 1-80mL
concentration: 4-400x10^6/mL
progressive motility: want at least 70%
morphologically normal: want at least 80%
total sperm per mL: at least 300x10^6
what do if dog is failing to ejaculate as measured by alkphos?
to improve chances of complete collection
-provide a female in estrus
-give dinoprost/PFG2a before collection to increase total sperm and decrease ejaculatory threshold
-give hCG or GnRH before collection
-have patience
-use quiet areas that don’t feel like exam rooms
what determines a satisfactory canine breeder?
- normal libido and gait
- 2 scrotal testes
- no scrotal, penile, or prostatic abnormalities
- brucella canis negative
- > 70% progressively motile sperm
- > 80% morphologically normal sperm
- > 300 million total sperm (breed dependent
- > 10 million sperm/lb body weight
