Male Small Ruminant BSEs and Repro Diseases

Question 1

When should the ram/buck BSE be performed?

Answer 1

-before the breeding season with enough time to find appropriate replacement sires if need be

Question 2

What are the main things that should be assessed during a BSE?

Answer 2

-body condition, eyes, feet, external genitalia (testicles, penis, prepuce), accessory sex glands (not routinely assessed-only if suspicious of issue), semen analysis

Question 3

What is unique about the male small ruminant anatomy?

Answer 3

They don’t have a body of the prostate (not much to see)
-focus exam on seminal vesicles, vas deferens

They also have the urethral process on their glands penis

Question 4

In order to exteriorize the penis of male small ruminants, where should you palpate?

Answer 4

Directly caudal to the testicles in order to press on the sigmoid flexure

Question 5

T/F: palpation of testicles during small ruminant BSE is more important than it is in bulls

Answer 5

True
-should assess tone, symmetry, temperature, localize the caudal epididymis
-should be 10 degrees colder than body temperature

Question 6

At what day of age is testicular diameter a good prediction of post pubertal testicular size and sperm output?

Answer 6

170 days

Question 7

What are the major criteria for selection of replacement rams in terms of scrotal size?

Answer 7

Ram lambs over 150 lbs should have scrotal size >30 cm
Yearling lambs from 12-18 months should have scrotal size >33 cm
Rams >250 lbs should have SC > 36 cm

Question 8

Why is it hard to set standards for scrotal size in goats?

Answer 8

There is a ton of variation between breeds

Question 9

In this region, when is a rams scrotal circumference the largest?

Answer 9

From August through October (aka during breeding season)
- can decrease up to 30% outside of breeding season (natural degeneration- never fail for this)
-some breeds more affected by the season than others

Question 10

What are the options for semen collection in small ruminants?

Answer 10

Artificial vagina or electoejaculator

Question 11

What things should you look for when analyzing the semen?

Answer 11

-color and consistency of ejaculate
-on microscope, assess mass vs individual motility, presence of WBCs, morphology
-head, midpiece, tail defects (head and midpiece are primary and noncompensatory, tail are secondary and noncompensable)

Question 12

How long is the spermatogenic cycle? How long does epididymal transport take?

Answer 12

Cycle is 48 days, 10-14 days for transport

Question 13

How can you perform a serving capacity test? What does it measure?

Answer 13

-a measurement of libido (number of times a male services a female during defined period)
-pen should be 3-5 m and in clear view of males that are to be tested
-male placed in pen with 2-4 cycling unrestrained females for 20-40 min
-ideally 4-6 or more breedings during 30 min period, but 2-3 is acceptable

Question 14

T/F: rams born co-twin to a female sibling have higher serving capacity than those born cotwin to males

Answer 14

False- better if co twin to male

Question 15

Describe the polled intersex condition in goats

Answer 15

The majority of them are male pseudohermaphrodites
-more prevalent in polled breeds and affected animals are homozygous (use of phenotypically polled bucks should be avoided for this reason)
-these animals are karyotypically female but develop masculine appearances at puberty (enlarged clitoris, decreased anogenital distance)
-bilateral cryptorchidism common, as well as hypospadias, short penises, sperm granulomas, testicular hypoplasia
-these animals can make good teaser animals, but otherwise should be culled

Question 16

Which testicle is more commonly retained in cryptorchid small ruminants?

Answer 16

Right
-higher incidence in intersex animals

Question 17

How do you diagnose cryptorchidism? Treatment?

Answer 17

-testicular/inguinal palpation, ultrasonography, bloodwork
-treat with castration via exploratory laparotomy. DO NOT BREED

Question 18

Describe some of the features of sperm granulomas

Answer 18

• occurs more commonly in bucks than rams (associated with PIS)
  -usually bilateral (even if it presents as unilateral)
  -caused by partial or complete blockage of the efferent ducts draining into the epididymis (ducts may become distended and rupture)
  -diagnose via palpation of firm swelling in the head of the epididymis. Testes begin edematous but ultimately undergo degeneration
  -treatment: castrate and/or cull

Question 19

What is a testicular hydrocele?

Answer 19

-fluid accumulation around the testicle
-usually idiopathic, but can be due to inflammation/trauma or excessive peritoneal free fluid
-diagnose on palpation or ultrasonography
-treat with hemicastration if unilateral or cull

Question 20

Is testicular varicocele more common in rams or bucks?

Answer 20

Rams
- it is a local dilation and thrombosis of the internal spermatic vein leading to a fluctuant to hard swelling palpable in the spermatic cord (often manifests as rear limb lameness)
-diagnose based on clinical signs (testicle feels cold), palpation +/- ultrasound
-treat with hemicastration or cull

Question 21

What are the differences between testicular hypoplasia and degeneration?

Answer 21

Hypoplasia: associated with intersex conditions in bucks and chromosomal abnormalities in rams. Found in young animals

Degeneration/atrophy: may see normal atrophy outside of breeding season, or could be caused by zinc deficiency, hypothyroidism (iodine deficiency), starvation, disease, or stress. Correct underlying cause or cull

Question 22

What do degenerative testicles look like on ultrasound?

Answer 22

Heterogenous pattern and mineralization

Question 23

Describe some characteristics of scrotal hernias

Answer 23

More common in rams than goats
-can be heritable or traumatic
-seen as distention of one side of the scrotum with freely movable fluctuant loop of intestine
-diagnose via palpation or US
-treat with hemicastration- can go on to pass BSEs but breeding capacity will be less (due to less sperm). Must consider heritability

Question 24

What is hypospadias?

Answer 24

The opening of the urethral orifice on the ventral aspect of the penis
-associated with intersex conditions
-should cull these animals, some surgical techniques if you want to keep as pets

Question 25

What are the main complications associated with urolithiasis cases?

Answer 25

-males can breed without a urethral process (usually the first attempt to treat)
-reobstruction is very common
-tube cystotomy recommended if valuable intact male (quick intervention necessary)
-medical management often fails and urethral strictures may result
-follow up surgery with ammonium chloride to dissolve struvite (submit stones to confirm composition)

Question 26

What is the other name for ulcerative posthitis?

Answer 26

Pizzle rot

Question 27

Describe some of the clinical features apparent in pizzle rot cases

Answer 27

-it is an infectious or inflammatory condition o the penis, prepuce and sheath
-results in reluctance to breed
-associated with high protein diets
-often involves interaction of local bacteria (corynebacterium renale) with excess urinary urea
-ammonia damages the mucosal surfaces
-treat by changing diet, shear prescrotal wool, antibiotics, ointments, anti-inflammatories

Question 28

Compare and contract phimosis and paraphimosis

Answer 28

-phimosis is the inability to extend the penis wheras paraphimosis is the inability to withdraw the penis into the prepuce
-both can cause loss of libido and fertility
-caused by hair rings, trauma, infection, balanoposthitis, masses, trauma, congenital abnormalities (persistent frenulum)
-diagnose through thorough inspection of the penis/prepuce to determine underlying cause
-treat underlying cause if possible or cull

Question 29

What is the most important rule out with epididymitis in rams?

Answer 29

Brucella ovis
- major cause of decreased fertility in flocks with multiple rams
-spread venereally (homosexual activities, or ewes as vectors)
-3 week incubation period
-diagnose through PCR/culture of semen and serology

Question 30

What other pathogens can cause epididymitis?

Answer 30

-opportunistic pathogens and corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis are common culprits
-diagnose through palpation, ultrasonography, evaluation of semen for PMN neutrophils
-lesions block sperm outflow which can result in pressure necrosis in testicles
-often vesicular glands are also affected in these cases

Question 31

Describe young male epididymitis

Answer 31

-occurs more in rams than bucks
-caused by respiratory pathogens- histophilus, actinobacillus, haemophilus -through oral nasal route- testosterone shuttles bacteria from bloodstream to repro tract
-usually transmitted by oral or nasal routes
-colonization and disease affected by hormonal changes during puberty
-diagnose via palpation, ultrasonography, culture/cytology
-treat with antibiotics (oxytet, tuathromycin) or culling if severe

Question 32

What are some causes of orchitis (testicular infection)?

Answer 32

-trauma vs infectious
-infectious causes: brucella ovis in rams or brucella melitensis in bucks, corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, opportunistic pathogens, chlamydia psittaci (venereal transmission possible), sheep pox, goat pox or lentiviruses
-diagnose via palpation of painful hot swollen scrotum
-if unilateral excessive heat can cause potential irreversible damage to contralateral testicle so hemicastration should be performed ASAP to preserve fertility. Place on antibiotics to prevent other side from developing lesions