Male Small Ruminant BSEs and Repro Diseases Flashcards
When should the ram/buck BSE be performed?
-before the breeding season with enough time to find appropriate replacement sires if need be
What are the main things that should be assessed during a BSE?
-body condition, eyes, feet, external genitalia (testicles, penis, prepuce), accessory sex glands (not routinely assessed-only if suspicious of issue), semen analysis
What is unique about the male small ruminant anatomy?
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
In order to exteriorize the penis of male small ruminants, where should you palpate?
Directly caudal to the testicles in order to press on the sigmoid flexure
T/F: palpation of testicles during small ruminant BSE is more important than it is in bulls
True
-should assess tone, symmetry, temperature, localize the caudal epididymis
-should be 10 degrees colder than body temperature
At what day of age is testicular diameter a good prediction of post pubertal testicular size and sperm output?
170 days
What are the major criteria for selection of replacement rams in terms of scrotal size?
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
Why is it hard to set standards for scrotal size in goats?
There is a ton of variation between breeds
In this region, when is a rams scrotal circumference the largest?
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
What are the options for semen collection in small ruminants?
Artificial vagina or electoejaculator
What things should you look for when analyzing the semen?
-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)
How long is the spermatogenic cycle? How long does epididymal transport take?
Cycle is 48 days, 10-14 days for transport
How can you perform a serving capacity test? What does it measure?
-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
T/F: rams born co-twin to a female sibling have higher serving capacity than those born cotwin to males
False- better if co twin to male
Describe the polled intersex condition in goats
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
Which testicle is more commonly retained in cryptorchid small ruminants?
Right
-higher incidence in intersex animals
How do you diagnose cryptorchidism? Treatment?
-testicular/inguinal palpation, ultrasonography, bloodwork
-treat with castration via exploratory laparotomy. DO NOT BREED
Describe some of the features of sperm granulomas
- 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
What is a testicular hydrocele?
-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
Is testicular varicocele more common in rams or bucks?
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
What are the differences between testicular hypoplasia and degeneration?
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
What do degenerative testicles look like on ultrasound?
Heterogenous pattern and mineralization
Describe some characteristics of scrotal hernias
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
What is hypospadias?
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
What are the main complications associated with urolithiasis cases?
-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)
What is the other name for ulcerative posthitis?
Pizzle rot
Describe some of the clinical features apparent in pizzle rot cases
-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
Compare and contract phimosis and paraphimosis
-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
What is the most important rule out with epididymitis in rams?
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
What other pathogens can cause epididymitis?
-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
Describe young male epididymitis
-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
What are some causes of orchitis (testicular infection)?
-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
