Lecture 12: Canine Andrology

Question 0

3 fractions of semen

Answer 0

1: prostatic (clear)
2: sperm rich (cloudy white)
3. prostatic (clear)

Question 1

normal canine penis

Answer 1

bulbus glandis

• extrude prior to erection
• penile examination
• ensure detumescence post collection

Question 2

sperm evaluation: motility and shape

Answer 2

motility = > 70 - 80% normal
shape = > 80% morph normal

Question 3

determining concentration of sperm

Answer 3

use a hemacytometer
dilute sperm 1:100
count # in central box –> total # in millions/ml

Question 4

total sperm # =

Answer 4

volume x concentration

estimate 10 million/pound body weight

Question 5

what does total sperm # depend on?

Answer 5

collector technique, presence of estrous teaser bitch, weight/size of dog

Question 6

cytology prep

Answer 6

H&E stained semen smears. seeing WBCs is ABNORMAL

Question 7

what are the 4 types of abnormal semen quality

Answer 7

azoospermia
oligospermia
teratozoospermia
asthenozoospermia

Question 8

azoospermia =

Answer 8

ejaculation of seminal fluid that does not contain sperm

Question 9

causes of azoospermia and dx

Answer 9

causes: intersex animals, germinal cell aplasia, bilateral cryptorchidism, testitcular trauma, autoimmune orchitis, testicular neoplasia
dx: palpation, karyotype, culture, brucella testing, ultrasound, aspiration, biopsy

Question 10

oligospermia

Answer 10

decreased number of sperm

Question 11

causes of oligospermia

Answer 11

• not necessarily infertile
• idiopathic, seasonal, testicular neoplasia, prostatic disease, orchitis/brucella, hypothyroidism, illness, drugs (steroids, estrogen, ketoconazole, chemo)

Question 12

teratozoospermia =

Answer 12

decreased percentage of morphologically normal sperm

Question 13

teratozoospermia - abnormalities correlated with infertility, acquired causes

Answer 13

no breed, age disposition
<70% morphologically normal sperm

• abnormalities correlated with infertility: midpiece attachment, midpiece ultrastructure, microcephalic sperm, proximal droplets
• causes: testicular tumors, orchitis, prostatitis, fever, obesity, sex abstinence

Question 14

asthenozoospermia =

general characteristics

Answer 14

progressive motility of less than 70%

• often associated with teratozoospermia
• may be first indication of infection
• causes same as teratozoospermia
• primary ciliary dyskinesia
• iatrogenic causes: latex exposure, water soluble lubricants

Question 15

alkaline phosphatase

Answer 15

present in high concentrations of semen

• originates from tail of epididymis
• > 5,000 IU/L in normal ejaculatory fluid
• <5,000 IU/L incomplete ejaculation
• bilateral obstruction of ejactulatory ducts

Question 16

prostate

Answer 16

• only accessory gland
• smooth, bi-lobed
• encircles urethra
• androgen-dependent
• 1st and 3rd fractions of semen

Question 17

benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH): characteristics and tx

Answer 17

• androgen dependent and age-related (> 5years)
• can be asymptomatic or cause incontinence, tenesmus
• “ribbon-like” stool, meaturia
• symmetrical enlargment
• non painful on palpation

tx: castration, finasteride (proscar), 5alpha reductase inhibitor

Question 18

prostatic neoplasia

Answer 18

CASTRATED dogs

• adenocarcinoma
• typically older dogs (> 10 years)
• asymmetrical, enlarged, firm
• calcification imaging
• lung, bone metastasis
• grave prognosis

Question 19

brucella canis

Answer 19

• gram negative aerobic coccobacillus
• limited host range - dogs and wild canines
• intracellular infection
• zoonotic!!
• reportable!!

Question 20

brucella canis: transmission, dx

Answer 20

transmission: acquired thru mucous membranes, oronasal contact with vaginal discharge, seminal fluids, urine, fomites!!
dx: screen every 6 months, RSAT test - sensitive, not specific (false positives common)

infection difficult to clear, shedding less likely in castrated animals

Question 21

tom infertility issues

Answer 21

• penile hair rings: pain and mating failure
• mate preference
• karyotype or intersex issues (male calico and tortise shell)
• cryptorchidism
• nutritional testicular degeneration/atrophy
• orchitis - bacterial (trauma, bites)
• FIP

Question 22

nutritional testicular degeneration/atrophy in toms

Answer 22

deficiency in riboflavin or EFA linoleate

deficiency or excess Vitamin A

Question 23

FIP in toms

Answer 23

peritonitis extends to tunic surrounding testis