Breeding soundness examination Flashcards
Why is a reproductive examination performed in females?
Document normality (BSE)
Estimate breeding time
Confirm pregnancy
Detect abnormalities (infertility causes)
Manage parturition
What key factors should be considered in the reproductive history?
Previous pregnancies
Current pregnancy status
Puberty & cyclicity history (inter-oestrus intervals)
Infectious disease risk?
Vaccination status
Climate, nutrition, stress,
teratogens
Any bacteriological/virological screening required?
Any genetic tests required?
Why is a general clinical examination done in a female breeding soundness evaluation and what factors should be assessed?
To ensure there are no diseases or defects that preclude from getting pregnant / successfully taking pregnancy to term
Body condition, size, dentition, feet health
Genetic/hereditary conditions (e.g. hip dysplasia in dogs)
Ventral hernias
What is assessed in the examination of the mammary glands?
Correct number of teats
Evidence of stage of oestrous cycle
Presence of current disease
Evidence of previous disease
What is assessed in the examination of the perineum?
Normal alignment of vulval lips
Evidence of venereal pathogens e.g.:
- Coital exanthema in mares (Equine herpes 4)
- Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis of cows (Bovine herpes virus 1)
What is assessed in the examination of the vulva?
Normal or abnormal?
- Previous injury or surgery
Presence of normal or abnormal discharge?
What is assessed in the examination of the vestibule?
Location of (normal or abnormal?) clitoris
What is assessed in the examination of the cervix?
Evaluation of cervical opening (e.g. at parturition)
Estimation of stage of cycle
Normal or abnormal?
- Discharge, previous trauma, fibrosis
Don’t breach cervix unless 100% certain animal isn’t pregnant
What methods are used to examine the uterus?
Palpation (trans-rectal, trans-abdominal)
Radiography
Ultrasonography
Uterine cytology/microbiology
Endoscopy & Biopsy (pathology detection)
What can be detected via palpation of uterus & what is it useful for?
Detection of:
- Shape, Size, Position, Tone
Useful for:
- Stage of the cycle
- Pregnancy
- Status of involution
- Infection (endometritis/ pyometra/metritis)
What can be detected via radiography of uterus & what is it useful for?
Detection of:
- Size, Position, Opacity
Useful for:
- Uterine enlargement (displacement of bowel)
- Pregnancy detection (after mineralisation)
- Counting foetal number / confirming retention
- (confirming foetal death but signs take few days to establish)
What can be detected via ultrasonography of uterus & what is it useful for?
Detection of:
- Shape, Size, Contents
Useful for:
- Stage of cycle
- Pregnancy diagnosis (esp early)
- Uterine pathology
- Foetal development/well-being
What can be detected via microbiology of uterus (using uterine swabs) & what is it useful for?
Care to ensure that uterus isn’t contaminated by procedure
Detection of:
- Commensal, opportunistic, pathogenic organisms
- Presence may vary in relation to stage of cycle
Useful for
- Screening
- Selection of appropriate therapeutics
What can be detected via cytology of uterus (using uterine swabs) & what is it useful for?
Detection of:
- Indicators of inflammation
- Specific organisms (with suitable stains)
Useful for:
- Screening for disease
- Indication of likely pathogen
What can be detected via uterine endoscopy & what is it useful for?
Performed after cytology as it caused contamination of uterus
Detection of:
- Uterine pathology (e.g. endometrial cysts, pus, neoplasia)
Useful for:
- Diagnosis
- Selected biopsy
- Treatment (laser / cautery) of some lesions
What can be detected via biopsy of uterus & what is it useful for?
Commonly performed blind with ‘basket-jaw’ instrument (most commonly in mares)
Detection of:
- Normality or infiltrative disease
Useful for
- Documentation of pathology
- Prognosis for fertility (mare)
What are the main purposes of a breeding soundness exam (BSE) in males?
Document normal reproductive function
Determine fertility prognosis
- Fertile, infertile, sterile
Detect abnormalities (even if unrelated to fertility)
What key factors should be considered in the reproductive history of males?
Puberty status
Previous breeding success
Mating ability and libido
Concurrent illnesses that may affect fertility
Infectious disease risk?
Any bacteriological/virological screening required?
Any genetic tests required?
What infections should be screened before examination in males?
Bacteriology: CEMO, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas (stallions)
Virology: PRRS (boars)
Genetic tests: Eye diseases (dogs), von Willebrand’s disease
What general health aspects should be assessed in males?
Body condition & size (Has puberty been reached?)
Musculoskeletal health (e.g. hock lesions in bulls affecting mounting)
Concurrent illness (e.g. pyrexia can affect semen quality)
Hereditary defects (e.g. hip dysplasia in dogs)
How is libido assessed in males?
Interaction with oestrous female
Mounting behaviour (species-specific)
Erection mechanism differences
- Stallions: Full erection before intromission
- Dogs: Os penis provides rigidity; full erection after intromission
Intromission (ability to achieve correct position)
Ejaculation (duration) & post-mating behaviour
What should be evaluated in the scrotum and testes?
Scrotal health: Skin condition, trauma, mobility, presence of hernias
Testicular palpation: Size, texture, tone, symmetry, mobile
Scrotal circumference: Assessed in bulls & rams
Ultrasound examination: Parenchymal echogenicity, focal abnormalities
What should be evaluated in examination of the sheath?
Normal appearance?
Freely mobile penis?
- May not be case if castrated pre-pubertally
Normality of preputial skin
Assess size of orifice & presence of discharge
Absence of fibrosis/evidence of previous disease
Ability to protrude penile tip
(Remember differences in anatomy)
What should be evaluated in examination of the penis?
Examine penis in non-erect & erect state
Normal appearance (e.g. spines in tom-cat)
Absence of penile-preputial adhesions
Penile deviations
How are accessory sex glands evaluated?
Rectal palpation
Radiography
Ultrasound
Prostatic lavage
What are the key semen parameters assessed?
Sperm concentration/number
Motility
Morphology
Live/dead ratio (staining)
Presence of other cells
Why is endocrine testing used in male animals?
Primarily to determine presence of functional testicular tissue in cases of suspected cryptorchidism
What are the two main endocrine stimulation tests for detecting testicular tissue and how do they work?
GnRH Test: Stimulates pituitary to release LH, which increases testosterone production from Leydig cells
hCG Test: Mimics LH, directly stimulating Leydig cells to release testosterone
How does testosterone response differ between intact and castrated males after endocrine stimulation?
Intact males: Significant increase in testosterone within 1-2 hours
Castrated males: No significant change in testosterone
What assessments does a stallion BSE involve?
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Examination of inguinal canal
Sheath, penis, routine bacteriological swabs according to HBLB guidelines
Examination of urethra & accessory glands via rectal palpation & ultrasonography, endoscopy
Examination of semen
Basal hormone & stimulation tests
What assessments does a bull BSE involve?
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Examination of sheath, penis
Examination of semen
What assessments does a ram/boar BSE involve?
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Examination of sheath, penis
Examination of semen
What assessments does a dog BSE involve?
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Sheath, penis, perineum
Examination of urethra via radiography & prostate gland via rectal palpation, lavage, radiography & ultrasonography
Examination of semen
Basal hormone & stimulation tests
What assessments does a tom cat BSE involve?
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Sheath, penis
Examination of semen
Basal hormone & stimulation tests
What is the purpose of the nigrosin-eosin stain in sperm assessment?
It is used to assess sperm vitality by differentiating live & dead sperm
Nigrosin enhances contrast for visualisation, while eosin stains dead sperm
How do live and dead sperm appear after staining with nigrosin-eosin?
Live sperm remain white because their membranes are intact & don’t absorb eosin
Dead sperm stain pink because eosin penetrates their membranes
How many sperm are dead in the image?
6
Describe the process of cytometry (sperm sexing).
- Sperm are dyed with DNA dye. X bearing cells bind more dye than Y bearing cells
- One sperm is released per drop
- Laser beam excites dye & sperm gives off light proportional to its DNA content
- Drop is charged depending on light intensity. (X sperm give off more light than Y sperm)
- Drops pass through pair of electrodes & charged drops sorted into different tubes
- You could then inseminate animal with either XX sperm or XY sperm
What is sperm sexing, and how does it work?
Process of separating X & Y sperm based on their DNA content
X sperm have more DNA than Y sperm because X chromosome is larger
How is sperm sexing performed scientifically?
Fluorescent dyes bind to DNA to differentiate sperm based on DNA quantity
Process used for separation is called flow cytometry
What kind of sexual development disorder is Persistent mullerian duct syndrome?
Normal male karyotype XY disorder
What kind of sexual development disorder is polled syndrome in goats?
Normal female Karyotype XX disorder
What kind of sexual development disorder is Freemartin?
Abnormal or missing sex chromosome disorder
What kind of tumour is present in this tissue from a dog?
This tumour is e.g. of interstitial cell tumour, AKA Leydig cell tumour
Leydig cell is primary source of testosterone & so has vital role in physiological processes
Leydig cell tumours often secrete excess androgens
The image below shows tissue from a ram.
What is your morphological diagnosis?
Given the H&E image, what is the aetiology/cause ?
Focally extensive, moderate, acute epididymitis.
Aetiology/Cause:
Likely Brucella ovis infection (Gram-negative coccobacillus).
Key Features:
- Transmission: Mainly via ram-to-ram mounting, not pasture.
- Lesions: Epididymal enlargement (tail > head/body), thickened tunica vaginalis, adhesions
Possible findings: - Spermatoceles with inspissated sperm fluid, testicular atrophy
This is tissue from a dog
What tissues/organs are present?
What is your morphological diagnosis?
Urinary bladder & prostate
Prostate has undergone hyperplasia, it would be described as diffuse, severe & chronic
