Male Reproductive Tract Flashcards
1
Q
What do you want to ask when taking a clinical history in the male?
A
- previous breeding history and sucess
- reached puberty?
2
Q
What do you want to know in terms of breeding records?
A
- number of females mated
- environmental conditions of mating
- management conditions of mating
- mating worload
- mating in relation to the season of the year
3
Q
What do you want to know before any examination in the male?
A
- does the male pose or potentially pose a infectious disease risk?
- is any bacteriological/virological screening required?
- are any genetic tests required?
4
Q
What does the general clinical examination compose of in the male?
A
- age and body size
- MSK disease?
- concurrent illness
- rule out hereditary defects
5
Q
What are you looking for when observing an interaction with an oestrus female in the normal mating environment?
A
- Interest in female
- Detection of oestrus female response
- Mounting behaviour
- Erection
- Intromission
- Ejaculation
- Interest after mounting
6
Q
When does full erection occur in the dog?
A
penis rigidity is produced by the os penis and full erection occurs after intromission
7
Q
When does full erection occur in the stallion?
A
stallion has a musculo-cavernous penis and achieves full erection before intromission
8
Q
What are you looking for in the intromission phase?
A
Ability to achieve correct position
9
Q
What are you looking for in the ejaculation phase?
A
Duration compared to normal for species (short in ruminant / prolonged in dog and boar)
Ability to achieve normal position (e.g. in dog there is copulatory tie where male and female face opposite directions)
10
Q
What does examination of the scrotum include?
A
- Normal or abnormal scrotal skin? Previous trauma?
- Testis freely mobile within the scrotum?
- Absence of abnormal scrotal contents?
- Ultrasound of scrotum
11
Q
How does the presence of an inguinal hernia affect fertility?
A
May result in increased testicular temperature
12
Q
What does examination of the testes include?
A
- Palpation of testicular size, texture, tone and evenness
2. Ultrasound exam of testes
13
Q
What are you looking for in terms of the tone of the testicle?
A
Tone should be firm and resilient
Softer in the rabbit
14
Q
What are you looking for in the ultraosund examination of the testes?
A
Measurement of volume
Estimation of parenchymal echogenicity
Detection of focal or diffuse abnormalities
15
Q
What does examination of the epidiymides include?
A
- Palpation of the head and tail of epididymides to assess size and turgidity
- Palpation of ductus deferens
16
Q
What does small and flaccid epididymidis indicated?
A
Disrupted sperm production
17
Q
What does a large and dilated epididymis indicate?
A
Distal obstruction
18
Q
What can palpation of ductus deferens at the neck of scrotum confirm?
A
Normality and rules out previous vasectomy
19
Q
What does palpation of the vasculature of the ductus deferens rule out?
A
Abnormlaity such as varicocoele
20
Q
What does exmination of inguinal canal include?
A
Palpation for:
- estimation of the size of inguinal canal
- detection of non descended testes
21
Q
What does examination of the sheath include?
A
- direction of sheath
- Freely mobile?
- Normality of preputial skin
- Assess size of origice and presence of discharge
- Ability to protrude penile tip
22
Q
What does examination of the penis include?
A
Examination of the penis in the non-erect and erect state
23
Q
What are you looking for in the examination of the penis in the non-erect and erect state?
A
Normal appearance (e.g. spines in the tom-cat)
Absence of penile-preputial adhesions
Penile deviations
Lesions of the penile skin (infection [balanitis], neoplasia)
Normal even-size along penile length
?radiographic examination
24
Q
What is phimosis?
A
Penis cannot be protruded because of abnormality of preputial orrifice
25
What is paraphimosis?
Penis cannot be withdrawn because of abnormalitis of prepuce, paralysis of penis
Sometimes follows traumatic injury to the protruded penis (e.g. in the stallion)
26
What is priapism?
Persistent ejection in the absence of sexual excitement (e.g. in the stallion following phenothiazines)
27
What does examination of the urethra include?
1. Palpation
2. Radiographic (usually positive contrast)
3. Endoscopy
28
What does examination of the perineum include?
1. Palpation
| 2. Radiographic (usually positive contrast)
29
What does examination of the accessory glands include?
1. Semen collection
2. Rectal palpation
3. Radiographic (often including positive contrast)
4. Trans-rectal or trans-abdominal 5.ultrasonography
6. Lavage techniques
30
What are some methods to organism identification?
Serology
Lavage or culture from penis/prepuce
Collection and culture from ejaculate
31
What hormone changes would you see if there was hypothalmic dysfunction?
Low GnRH
Low FSH + LH
Poor sperm production
Low testosterone
32
What hormone changes would you see if there was pituitary dysfunction?
Low FSH + LH
Poor sperm production
Low testosterone
High GnRH
33
What hormone changes would you see if there was leydig cell dysfunction?
Low testosterone
High GnRH
High LH
34
What hormone changes would there be in a normal animal after administration of GnRH
Increased FSH + LH
| Increased testosterone
35
What hormone changes would there be in a an animal with pituitary dysfunction after administration of GnRH
No change in FSH + LH
| No change in testosterone
36
What hormone changes would there be in an animal with leydig cell dysfunction after administration of GnRH
Increased FSH
Increased LH
No change in testosterone
37
What changes occur in the normal animal after administration of hCG?
Increased testosterone
38
What changes occur in an animal with pituiary dysfunction after administration of hCG?
No change in FSH + LH
| Increased testosterone
39
What changes occur in an animal with leydig cell dysfunction after administration of hCG?
No change in FSH + LH
| No change in testosterone
40
What is azoospermia?
No sperm
41
What is oligozoospermia?
Low numbers of normal sperm
42
What is tretozozoospermia
Sperm with abnormal morphology
43
What is asthenozoospermia?
Sperm with abnormal motility
44
What are compensable sperm?
Sperm that are unable to reach the egg so just have noo effect
45
What are uncompensable sperm?
Those that are motile and can reach and penetrate but are incapable of sustaining fertilization or pregnancy
46
What do you need to know in terms of the male repro examination in the stallion?
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Examination of inguinal canal
Sheath, penis, routine bacteriological swabs according to HBLB guidelines
Examination of urethra and accessory glands via rectal palpation and ultrasonography, endoscopy,
Examination of semen
Basal hormone and stimulation tests
47
What do you need to know in terms of the male repro examination in the bull?
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Examination of sheath, penis
Examination of semen
48
What do you need to know in terms of the male repro examination in the ram and boar?
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Examination of sheath, penis
Examination of semen
49
What do you need to know in terms of the male repro examination in the dog?
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Sheath, penis, perineum
Examination of urethra via radiography and prostate gland via rectal palpation, lavage, radiography and ultrasonography
Examination of semen
Basal hormone and stimulation tests
50
What do you need to know in terms of the male repro examination in the tom cat?
```
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Sheath, penis
Examination of semen
Basal hormone and stimulation tests
```
51
What feet conditions affect fertility in the male?
Corkscrews and interdigital fibromas
52
What leg conformational issues affect fertility in the male?
Posty legs and puffy hocks
53
What some conditions of the prepuce?
- Urolithiasisis – crystals on preapical hair
- Absent musculature in bulls/Too tight musculature can prevent intromission
- Phimosis (can’t get out) and paraphimosis (can’t get back)
- Infectious balanitis
- Eversion leading to trauma
- Trauma and foreign bodies
54
What are some conditons of the accessory sex glands?
- Hyperplasia of prostate (dog)
- Infectious seminal vesiculitis
- Absence
55
What species does infectious seminal vesiculitis typically occur in?
Yearling bulls
56
What is the treatment of infectious seminanl vesiculitis?
Difficult to treat if left a long time.
| Tulathryomycin weekly for 6 weeks; meloxicam by injection alternate days for first 2 weeks
57
What does the semen look like with infectious seminal vesiculitis?
Pussy
58
How do you examine the accessory sex glands in the dog?
Digital
| Ultrasound
59
How do you examine the accessory sex glands in bull/stallion?
Rectal
| Ultrasound
60
What are some conditions of the testicle?
- Hypoplasia
- Hard and small due to post traumatic scarring or fibrosis/calcification with age
- soft due to tubular atrophy
- absent - cryptochid
- Rotated- stallion
- Enlarged- neoplasia, esp older dogs
61
What is important in examining the testicles?
Scrotal circumference
62
What are some conditions of the epididymis?
- Lumpy, esp. ascending infection (mainly ram), blockage (spermatocoele)
- Floppy, small, possibly displaced cauda
- Absence (segmental aplasia of mesonephric duct)
- Don’t just measure; palpate!
63
What are some conditions of the scrotum?
- Adhesions as a result of previous infections and inflammation
- short scrotum
- Orchitis
- Dermatitis: chorioptic mange
64
What organism causes orchitis as a primary symptom?
Brucella ovis and is notifiable!
65
What are some conditions of the penis?
- Trauma – all species, but especially stallion
- Rupture at the sigmoid flexure – ruminants
- Papillomas and other tumours
- Corkscrew penis in bulls (normal in boars)
- Persistent frenulum- goats, not common
- ‘Pizzle rot’
66
What sort of penile tumours do you get in the stallion?
SCC at urethral orifice and ibroblastic sarcoids on penile/preputial skin
67
What sort of penile tumours do you get in dogs?
Transmissible Venereal Granuloma
68
What is pizzle rot?
Occurs in rams
Corynebacterium renale: grows in
the alkaline environment caused by the high urinary urea
content of rams on high protein diets
69
What are infectious causes of male infertiity in cattle?
Viral:
IBR, BVD, EBL, Bluetongue
Bacterial:
Campylobacter, Brucella, TB, Lepto, Johne’s, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma
Protozoal: Trichomonas
70
What are infectious causes of male infertiity in sheep?
Viral: Bluetongue and possible Schmallenberg.
Bacterial: Brucella ovis (notifiable), possible Johne’s, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma
71
What are infectious causes of male infertiity in horses?
Viral: EVA, EIA, Vesicular stomatitis, African horse sickness
Bacterial: CEM (taylorella), Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Salmonella abortus equi, Glanders
Protozoal: Dourine
72
What are you looking at in terms of semen analysis?
Gross examination, volume, concentration and abnormalities
73
What would a white-yellow semen colour indicate?
Normal
74
What would a brownish semen colour indicate?
Blood
75
What would a greenish semen colour indicate?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
76
What would clots or mucus in semen indicate?
Pus and inflammation
77
What is the normal density of sperm?
2500 – 5000 million sperm/ml
78
What should the motility be in normal sperm?
70-95%
79
How can you collect semen in ruminants and stallions?
Artifical vagina
80
How can you collect semen in boars and dogs?
Digital manipulation
81
What semen sample collection method requires further specialist training?
Electro-ejaculation
82
What do you need to examine sperm microscopically?
>5 Celsius field lab
Good microscope
Warm stage
Good smears
83
What is the difference between rams and bulls in detecting infertility?
Most infertility in rams can be detected from the physical exam.
In bulls- semen examination almost always required
84
What needs to be considered when collectiing semen by electro-ejaculation in the ram?
```
Painful
Only used when absolutely necessary
Not to be used as a routine test
Analgesia recommended
Recommeneded to collect via artifical vagina (no welfare concerns)
```
85
What does grade 0 of the swirl and motility exam mean?
No movement and 0% motile
86
What does grade 1 of the swirl and motility exam mean?
Sperm moving but no waves
| 0-20% motile
87
What does grade 2 of the swirl and motility exam mean?
Very slow wave motion
| 30-45%
88
What does grade 3 of the swirl and motility exam mean?
Slow wave motion
| 50-70%
89
What does grade 4 of the swirl and motility exam mean?
Moderate wave motion
| 75-80%
90
What does grade 5 of the swirl and motility exam mean?
Very rapid wave motion
| 85-95%
91
What is the density of a watery semen appearance?
<500 million/ml
92
What is the density of a skim milk like semen appearance?
1000 +/- 500 million/ml
93
What is the density of a milky semen appearance?
2000 +/- 500 million/ml
94
What is the density of a thin creamy semen appearance?
3000 +/- 500 million/ml
95
What is the density of a creamy semen appearance?
4000 +/- 500 million/ml
96
What is the density of a thick creamy semen appearance?
5000 +/- 500 million/ml
97
How often are bulls tested for on stud?
Often monthly while producing
98
What must semen undergo before distribution?
Frozen
| 28day quarantine period
99
What are proximal defects?
Motile but unable to fertilise.
| Indication of immature spermatozoa or dysfunction of the epididymis
100
What does physiological proximal droplets indicate?
immature spermtozoa
101
What does pathological proximal droplets indicate?
Stress to sperm maturation
102
What percentage of proximal droplets in a sample makes the sample sub fertile?
>10%
103
When do detached normal heads sometimes present?
Often present in rams that have no ejaculated for over 7 days, in these instances, re-collect 2 or 3 times if possible
104
What do detached normal heads indicate?
Indicates stress to the epididymis within the last 3-11days
105
What percentage of detached normal heads would be abnormal?
If greater than 20% may indicate testicular degeneration.
106
What are some of the iatrogenic causes of bent tails?
Rapid cooling of semen
Mixing with hypotonic solutions
In these cases most often no distal droplet trapped in bend of tail
107
What are bent tails indicative of?
Stress to epididymis within last 3-14days.
May be associated with low testosterone levels
Should resolve wihtin 14 days once stress relieved.
108
What are tightly coiled tails a sign of?
Severe stress to the testicles
109
What are the significance of abaxial tails?
Not associated with low fertility in the horse or boar.
| Unknown in ram
110
What is the significance of distal droplets?
None
| May indicate very frequent ejaculation
111
What factors cause testosterone to be decreased?
Stress
Cortisol
Dexamethasone
Exogenous oestrogen
112
What stresses cause abnormal sperm production?
Pain, hunger and cold
113
What heat factors can result in abnormal sperm production?
Obesity
Scrotal abnormality (short)
Climate
Fever
114
What seasonal factors can effect sperm production?
Photoperiod
Nutrition
Temperature
115
What toxicities can result in abnormal sperm production?
Zearalenone
| Bacterial toxins
116
What nutritional conditions can result in abnormal sperm production?
Protein, vitamin A/Se deficiency
117
What are the principles of semen sexing?
Fluorescent dye binds the DNA and allows the heavier X chromosomes to be differentiated from the Y and thus assigned a different charge. The sperm are then defected accordingly into separate pots.
118
What are the pros of semen sexing?
No unwanted bull calves in dairy farms
119
What are the cons of semen sexing?
Lower conception rates to sexed semen
