Exam 3 - Non-infectious Infertility Flashcards
what is the most common cause of anestrus/low pregnancy AI rates in cattle?
inaccurate estrus detection - occurs 90% of the time, usually no pathology & they are usually in diestrus with a CL
how is non-detected estrus diagnosed?
repeated exams - include exams for cows that are ‘in heat’, & make sure you keep accurate records
how can temperature cause anestrus in cattle?
very hot or very cold can reduce activity
how can size & location of the yard cause anestrus in cattle?
not truly anestrus, but it is too big so the cows never see their friends with benefits
what are some methods in which heat detection is improved for cattle?
KaMar paint patches - placed at tail base & splatter when they are mounted
grease pencil thing - cheaper than the paint ones, & it looks like slicked back hair when they are mounted
how do pedometers help with estrus detection in cows?
cows in estrus will walk more/show more activity
are teaser animals more commonly used in the dairy cattle or beef cattle industry?
more common in beef cattle
what is the most important thing to improve estrus detection in cattle?
OBSERVATION
how is PGF2a used to improve estrus detection in cattle?
when given, it concentrates the number of cows going into heat at one time when given to a sexually active group of cows (need to have a CL & be in diestrus to respond to this)
what is a gomer bull?
bull that has a deviated pp or pp problem that can’t actually breed a cow, but it can be used for detecting cows in estrus
what is a physiologic cause that is often forgotten as a cause of anestrus in cattle?
pregnancy!!!
what are the most common pathologic causes of anestrus in cattle?
uterine distension from pyometra (persistent CL), mucometra, & hydrometra
why do cows get a pyometra from a retained CL causing anestrus? what cows are often affected by this?
they are unable to release PGF2a from their endometrium, so the CL stays & wrecks shop
commonly occurs in postpartum cows
what is the biggest difference between mummified fetuses in cattle & macerated fetuses in cattle?
prognosis - mummified fetuses carry a better fertility prognosis
macerated has a poor fertility prognosis
when do mummified fetuses occur in cattle? what pathology is seen?
3-8 months into gestation - fluid resorption & sterile environment
when do macerated fetuses occur in cattle? what pathology is seen?
any stage of gestation but usually after bone formation!!!!!
vaginal discharge & probably stinky and smelly
which one is macerated & which one is mummified?
mummified - top photo, dried up fetus
macerated - bottom picture, infected & gross
T/F: cystic ovarian disease affects 10-30% of dairy cows & is less common in beef cattle (unless they are frequently superovulated)
true
what is cystic ovarian disease in cattle?
follicle-like structures that fail to ovulate - follicular cysts
or partially lutenized cysts with thicker walls that are usually single - luteal cysts
what are the differences between follicular cysts & luteal cysts in cattle?
follicular - > 25mm in diameter, thin-walled
luteal cyst - thicker walled, usually single
what is the mechanism of cystic ovarian disease in cattle?
inadequate LH release or lack of LH receptors
stress near calving/hereditary predisposition
T/F: cystic ovarian disease in cattle is more common at or after the 3rd lactation
true
what are the clinical signs associated with cystic ovarian disease?
70-80% anestrus
20-30% nymphomania - mounting other cows constantly or sterility hump with a prominent tail head
occasional masculinization
this is a sterility hump - what condition is this appearance associated with?
cystic ovarian disease
how is cystic ovarian disease diagnosed in cattle?
history & clinical signs
palpation/ultrasound
uterus is flaccid!!!!!!!
why is no treatment sometimes used for cystic ovarian disease in cattle?
none due to spontaneous recovery - 60% before 1st postpartum ovulation & 20% after 1st postpartum ovulation
what treatment is used for follicular cysts in cattle?
GnRH - stimulates LH release from AP, gets them to estrus in 3 weeks
hCG - LH activity, normal cyclicity in 3 weeks with 65-80% responding to a single dose, but if no response to the 3rd treatment, bad news
what treatment is used for luteal cysts in cattle?
PGF2a given 9-10 days after GnRH or hCG
estrus in ~3 days, so estrus from treatment takes 12 days instead of 3 weeks
T/F: it is cost effective to exam cows for cystic ovaries 50-60 days postpartum to determine if treatment is needed & then treating what is necessary
true
T/F: manual rupture of luteal cysts is an okay treatment option for cystic ovarian disease in cattle
false!!! very bad - risk of hemorrhage especially with luteal cysts
how do freemartins happen in cattle?
anastomosis of fetal vessels of twin baby cows - male differentiation occurs earlier than female differentiation, so there is a transfer of the H-Y antigen which inhibits female gonadal development
T/F: >90% of twin calves are affected by freemartinism
true
what animals are affected by freemartinism?
female co-twin of male calf
what are the clinical signs of a freemartin cow?
hypoplastic ovaries
hypoplasia/aplasia of the tubular tract (varying degrees) but uterus & vagina usually don’t communicate
how are freemartins diagnosed?
tube test - take a blood tube & pass it into the vagina, & if it is a free martin, it won’t go in
also ultrasound/palpation/history
what is ovarian hypoplasia of cattle?
sporadic occurrence (autosomal recessive gene, incomplete penetration) - partial/incomplete but can be unilateral or bilateral
what clinical signs are associated with ovarian hypoplasia of cattle?
ovaries are bean sized in the broad ligament, but may be near to normal
tubular organs - underdeveloped (can see complete bilateral cases) or may just be slightly affected
how is ovarian hypoplasia diagnosed?
palpation - hard to identify the ovaries, may not be able to find them during palpation, or just a very very small reproductive tract
what is another name for segmental aplasia? why?
white heifer disease - happens in white/gray breeds (all breeds with white offspring), common in short horn breeds (recessive in white shorthorns)
what is wrong with this reproductive tract?
ovarian hypoplasia
what is wrong with this reproductive tract?
segmental aplasia
what clinical signs are associated with segmental aplasia?
cranial reproductive tract is normal but caudal horn is aplastic & they accumulate fluid & is commonly confused with pregnancy, can end up being a hydrometra or mucometra
what are the greatest affects from underfeeding causing nutritional infertility in cattle?
high metabolic demand - puberty, parturition, peak lactation, first calf heifers
delayed puberty
delayed uterine involution
prolonged postpartum anestrus!!!!!!
what are the greatest affects from overfeeding causing nutritional infertility in cattle?
fat cow syndrome - cows refuse to eat, fatty liver
reproductive disorders - dystocia, retained placenta, metritis
metabolic disorders - displaced abomasum, mastitis, ketosis, & milk fever
fail to respond to treatment!!!
in ewes & does, why do you cull all open or ‘poor doers’ annually?
they typically have high fertility
what is the intersex condition seen in goats?
polled gene is an autosomal dominant gene & the intersex (infertility gene) is linked to the polled gene BUT is RECESSIVE
polled buck/doe can be heterozygous or homozygous
if they are polled but fertile, they must be heterozygous!!!
how do you prevent intersex from occurring in goats?
breed with at least one parent having horns!!!! ensures that none of the offspring will be homozygous for the polled gene & therefore won’t be intersex
what does polled mean?
no horns
what clinical signs are seen in intersex goats?
intersexuality in homozygous genetic females (XX) that are male pseudohermaphrodites
infertility in homozygous genetic males
so their gonads are testis that produce a lot of testosterone
enlarged clitoris & young anestrus doe that teases other does
why are hydrometras confusing in goats?
it is an accumulation of intrauterine fluid that develops after mating that is often confused with pregnancy because it happens around the time you would expect the doe to give birth!
what clinical signs are seen in goats with hydrometras?
abdominal distension
persistent CL (anestrus)
fluid expelled after 150 days - cloud burst
what is the etiology of hydrometras in goats?
unsure but we think it is a lack of normal prostaglandin release
what is the treatment for hydrometras in goats? what is the prognosis of their return to fertility?
give them PGF2a
good
what are some clinical signs of ovarian cysts in goats?
follicles > 1.2cm, considered cysts!
short interestrus intervals & nymphomania in the middle of the breeding season - erratic estrus (normal at the beginning & end of the season)
how are ovarian cysts diagnosed in goats?
presumptive diagnosis - confused with poor heat detection
based on history - impossible to palpate their ovaries!
how do you treat ovarian cysts in goats?
hCG or GnRH - get rid of the cysts & get them back into normal cycles
how is the seasonal transition a cause of abnormal cycles in horses?
erratic/prolonged activities of receptivity with no ovulation
changes in melatonin causing problems
what may cause prolonged diestrus in a horse?
retained/persistent CL (stays 30-90 days)
what are some causes of prolonged diestrus in horses? how do you treat it?
inadequate endometrial prostaglandin release
diestrus ovulation
idiopathic
CLINICALLY VERY IMPORTANT!!
PGF2a
T/F: seasonal anestrus accounts for 75-80% of non-infectious infertility in horses
true
silent estrus is most commonly seen in what horses?
mares with foals
maidens
mares with inadequate teasing time
overly aggressive stallion around a mare - freaks her out
what is silent estrus?
horse is having a normal estrus/ovulation but not showing signs that it is happening
how do you treat silent estrus in mares?
improve the teasing program
change the stallion
sedation used for them to breed
synchronization
what is turner’s syndrome in horses?
63 XO karyotype - 63 instead of 64 chromosomes causing gonadal dysgenesis
what clinical signs/physical abnormalities does turner’s syndrome cause in mares?
anestrus
underdeveloped uterus - endometrial hypoplasia
hypoplastic ovaries - small & inactive
head is disproportionately large
what do you thing is wrong with this mare? why?
turner’s syndrome - big head
why is this going to be a problem for this mare?
poor perineal conformation - poop will fall into the vagina & cause vaginitis/cervicitis/endometritis & can get pneumovagina/pneumouterus
how do you treat these?
caslick’s procedure
what is the pathology shown here? what can cause it? what is the sequela of it?
urovagina !
trauma or poor conformation
urine pools in the anterior vagina & contaminates the uterus & is spermicidal
what is this? what mares are affected by it? what do you do about it?
persistent hymen
maiden mares
manually perforate it
what is this seen in the vagina of a mare? what can cause it? does it affect fertility? what is a differential you should have for this?
varicosities - older mares in late pregnancy, bleeding from the vulva
doesn’t cause infertility
placentitis as a differential
what mares are affected by periglandular fibrosis? what is seen on biopsy?
older mares - connective tissue is deposited around glands causing nests, cystic gland distension, & inspissations
how is periglandular fibrosis diagnosed in horses?
endometrial biopsy
what is seen on this endometrial biopsy of an older mare? is there any treatment?
periglandular fibrosis - no treatment
what are the sequela of periglandular fibrosis in a mare?
pregnancy lost!!!! big impact with severity & frequency
why are endometrial cysts & lymphatic lacunae a problem for equine uteruses?
can be confused with early pregnancy & can also interfere with early pregnancy!!!!!
how are endometrial cysts & lymphatic lacunae diagnosed in a mare?
endometrial biopsy!!!!
what horses are commonly affected by endometrial cysts & lymphatic lacunae? why do we think it happens?
older mares - inadequate lymphatic drainage!!!
what is the most common reproductive neoplasia seen in mares? is it benign or malignant?
granulosa-thecal cell tumor!!!!!
usually benign & unilateral
what mares are commonly affected by granulosa-thecal cell tumors?
prevalence increases with age!!!! still can be seen in younger animals
what are the clinical signs associated with granulosa-thecal cell tumors in mares?
anestrus, erratic-estrus, stallion-like behavior, & masculinization
tumor produces testosterone!!!!! this is why we see signs
what are some differentials for granulosa-thecal cell tumors?
cystadenoma, teratomas, dysgerminomas - typically hormonally inactive
hematomas, abscess, anovulatory follicle (will fill up with blood, sterile event)
what is felt on the affected ovary with a granulosa-thecal cell tumor? what about the unaffected ovary?
loss of the ovulation fossa!!!!!! the affected ovary is enlarged!!!!!
other ovary is small & inactive - hormonal feedback from the tumor may be from testosterone, inhibin, & AMH
