Lecture 3: Breeding Soundness Examination & Female Infertility (Kelleman) Flashcards
What is the biggest cause of bitch infertility?**
improper timing of breeding
what things should be included in a GENERAL MEDICAL HISTORY during a breeding soundness exam?
- illnesses, current medications, thyroid issues, skin issues, foods & “supplements,” etc.
- kennel illnesses (i.e. herpesvirus)?
- travel history (for possible transmissible venereal tumor)?
- vaccines, HWP, etc.
- brucella serology?
HWP and pregnancy
some HWP not labeled for pregnancy/breeding and could have deleterious effects (i.e. Spinosad)
OFA =
orthopedic foundation of america. Certs hips, elbows, etc.
how is brucella serology performed?
test run in house or through diagnostic labs. Test every 6-12 mo. depending on how often they are being mated
what things should be included in an ESTROUS CYCLE HISTORY during a breeding soundness exam?
- cycling
- interestrous interval
- # of cycles
- # of days of vulvar d/c
- how long receptive (“stand for dog”)
- vaginal cytologies or hormone testing?
- rx to incude estrus or “improve fertility”?
- bitch family history of infertility?
what things should be included in a BREEDING HISTORY during a breeding soundness exam?
- bitch allowed stud to mount? Observed to “tie”?
- # breedings/cycle?
- choice of breeding days?
- stud sired litters since this bitch?
- “inside tie” vs. “outside tie”?
- bitch transport/travel/tranquilization for breeding?
- method of breeding? AI, sx AI
what is an “outside” tie?
stud ejaculates but is not a normal inside tie. Not a normal mating behavior.
What things should be included in a PREGNANCY HISTORY during a breeding soundness exam?
- litters? # pup survival?
- caesarian sections?
- abortion?
- early embryonic death “resorption”? (At what time? How was it diagnosed? at what gestational age?)
OTHER REPRO HISTORY for a breeding soundness exam?
- previous pyometra?
- vaginitis?
- vulvar dermatitis?
- mismating? (i.e. bred by feral dog; has she been therapeutically aborted because of one?)
- medications to prevent or delay estrus? (i.e. progesterone
- is inter-estrus interval normal?
What things should be included in a REPRODUCTIVE EXAM during a breeding soundness exam?
- vulva: infantile (very small)? dermatitis? recessed? discharge?
- digital vestibule/vaginal exam: a problem could prevent male from tying properly
- mammary glands: check for neoplasia
- abdominal palpation
recessed vulva
vulva has slightly different anatomic orientation; can cause vaginitis or dermatitis, descharge/irritation
is ultrasound very good at detecting ovarian function?
no
potential diagnostics you can run
- CBC, chem, U/A
- manual vaginal exam
- vaginoscopy
- vaginal cytology
- repro culture
- thyroid panel
- progesterone**
- repro ultrasound/rads
- exploratory laparotomy
- karyotype (to detect possible genetic issues)
importance of canine vaginal examination
- invaluable in dx of variety of abnormalities
- most effective and reliable method of diagnosing a vaginal stricture
dangers of strictures/stenosis/tissue bands
can cause mating problems, urinary tract signs, dystocia, or puppies can get caught on them
normal reproductive causes of vulvar discharge
repro cycle
parturition
postpartum
abnormal repro causes of vulvar discharge
- pyometra
- abortion
- metritis
- hemorrhage
- subinvolution of placentalsites
- estrogen stimulation (ie. follicular cysts, ovarian remnant syndrome, iatrogenic)
misc. causes of vulvar discharge
neoplams foreign body urovagina uterine stump pathology UT pathology vaginitis with anatomic defects of vaginal or vestibular vault puppy vaginitis
Which bacteriaare normal on vaginal cytology?
mixed floraof staph, strep, E. coli, pasterurella, mycoplasma, andureaplasma. If there is an abundance of 1 type, may indicate infection and need for abx
canine herpes virus causes:
mummies, abortions, stillborns, premature delivery.
transmission of canine herpes virus
respiratory, oral, venereal
who is most at risk for canine herpes virus?
naive pregnant bitches. Most critical time is 3 wks pre and postpartum. Virus can live in nervous system and outbreak during times of stress, such as parturition.
Is Brucella ALWAYS pathologic? Is it zoonotic?
YES.
reproductive consequences of brucellosis infection
fever abortion conception failure early embryonic death testicular atrophy epididymitis scrotal edema/dermatitis semen abnormalities *adult dogs rarely seriously ill*
non-repro consequences of brucellosis infeciton
- diffuse lymphadenomegaly
- diskospondylitis
- lameness (osteomyelitis, polyarthritis)
- ocular lesions, etc.
serosal cysts are on inside/outside of uterus?
outside
cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH)
- caused by repeated estrus and diestrus (estrogen, then progesterone)
- endometrial cyst form.
- inc. susceptibility to infection due to thickening, cysts, progesterone immune suppression. –> PYOMETRA
ovarian cyst
- secrete estrogen or (and?) progesterone
- can be caused by granulosa cell tumor (?)
estrogen-secreting ovarian cyst presents as:
prolonged estrus bleeding
progesterone-secreting ovarian cyst presents as:
dog not coming into estrus on normal cycle
How to treat canine/feline follicular cysts?
try to luteinize with hCG or GnRH (similar to cows, but not as successful)
-sx excision
How to treat canine/feline ovarian cysts?
sx excision
granulosa cell tumor can result from:
left over bits of ovary during sterilization procedure. Ultimately due to prolonged high estrogen exposure.
-leads to bone marrow suppression
Name 6 cycle abnormalities
- split heat
- proestrus/estrus >8 weeks
- prolonged diestrus
- short interestrous interval (IEI)
- anestrus
- silent heat
split heat
follicular wave –> atresia –> new follicular wave
proestrus/estrus >8 weeks can be due to:
- ovarian cyst
- GCT
- exogenous estrogen
interestous interval shorter than __ months will affect bitch’s ability to achieve pregnancy
4
short interestrous interval can be due to
postpartum or non-pregnant diestrus
examples of intersex animal
- XX sex-reversal male (true female that looks like a male)
- true hermaphrodites that have ovary, testis, or ovotestis
poster child for intersex
cocker spaniel
approach to female infertility
- History: estrous cycle & mating info, family history of infertility, disease and vax status (esp. for FeLV, FIV)
- PE
- Dx testing PRN
2 types of abnormal estrous cycle in cats
persistent anestrus, persistent estrus
Describe the feline estrous cycle
(see slide 35)
1) proestrus (0-2d) + estrus (2-19d) can lead to postestrus (8-10d), diestrus pseudopregnant (40d), or diestrus pregnant (60d)
2) Any of these stages can lead back to proestus/estrus, or instead progess to anestrus (30-90d)
3) anestrus progresses back into proestrus/estrus
Proestrus
time when cat attracts male but doesn’t allow mating. Followed by estrus.
If cat ovulates spontaneously, she becomes ____
pseudopregnant
postestrus
stage following estrus if cat is not mated or fails to ovulate. Follicular wave atrophies, then makes another follicular wave and goes back into estrus
can cats get pregnant while they lactate?
Yes. (unlike cattle)
how do estrogen an progesterone change during pregnancy?
estrogen decreases, progesterone increases, then decreases close to parturition (see slide 36)
causes for persistent anestrus
- seasonality, photoperiod
- ovarian
- behavioral
seasonal polyestrous
repeated estrous cycles for a portion of the year
-usually occurs when days are long
-14-16 hrs of daylight/day stimulates estrus
(on the other hand, persistent anestrus can be caused by NOT getting enough daylight)
Abnormalities resulting in ovarian anestrus
- progesterone secreting ovarian cyst
- neoplasia (Granulosa cell tumor (GCT))
- karyotype or sexual differentiation abnormality
- systemic dz. and ovarian inflamm.
- exogenous hormone supression- progestagens
what could be an obvious cause of ovarian anestrus?
previous spay
Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) test**
determines if there is gonad present (i.e. if they are intact, have a remnant ovary, or are cryptorchid)**
-AMH is a glycoprotein hormone that is present in all placental mammals
Where can ELISA for AMH be run?
Cornell, UC Davis
AMH test is used in equine to determine:
cryptorchid, presence of GCT tumor
Spaychek plus test
can detect intact or cryptorchid, but CANNOT detect ovarian remnant! Taken off market
source of AMH in females**
ovarian granulosa cells (but only in animals old enough to ovulate)
source of AMH in males**
testicular sertoli cells
silent heat
a physiologically normal estrous cycle without outward behavioral “heat” signs
i.e. shy female, other dominant queens present
spontaneous (normal) ovulation
cat ovulates without stimulation.
- common in cat colonies
- no mating
- goes into diestrus “pseudo-pregnant”
2 types (?) of behavioral anestrus
silent heat
spontaneous ovulation
Persistent Estrus
Repeated follicular waves with overlap
- estrogen induced signs of heat don’t subside
- perceived as if cat is always in heat but doesn’t allow mating
- causes: estrogen secreting follicular ovarian cysts, neoplasia (GCT), or exogenous hormone exposure
causes of failure to mate even though queen allows mating and has normal estrous cycle
- mating at wrong time in cycle
- male preference
- vestibulo-vaginal anatomic defects
reasons for failing to achieve pregnancy even though queen allows mating and has normal estrous cycle
- tom infertile
- failure to ovulate (not enough stimulation)
- congenital anatomical defects (oviduct, uterus, segmental aplasia)
- cystic endometrial hyperplasia with infection (tx with abx)
- inbreeding/karyotype issue
- unknown etiology
Things to check on a feline PE for breeding
- general exam
- limited repro exam including:
- mammary glands
- abdominal palpation
- should be NO vulvar discharge
- vaginal cytology to check for cornification
Hormonal Diagnostics
1) vag cytology bio assay for presence of estrogen
2) progesterone: should rise post mating/ovulation, required for pregnancy
lack of progesterone spike post-mating indicates
not enough stimulation during mating. Ovulation didn’t occur.
period of progesterone =
diestrus
Other diagnostics for feline breeding exam
- abdominal ultrasound
- exploratory laparotomy
- karyotyping
abnormalities in what organ often correspond to uterine abnormalities?
kidney
only facility for small animal karyotyping
UC Davis
