Conditions of the reproductive organs of the bull

Conditions of the reproductive organs of the bull

Seminal Vesiculitis

Clinical findings

Aetiology and pathogenesis

• Usually detected on routine BSE
• Rectal examination
• Semen changes (leukocytes, pH, fructose, motility)
• Ultrasound changes:
• Increased size, loss of lobulated appearance, increased fluid, hyperechoic areas

• Young bulls during puberty (49% of abattoir specimens)
• Rapid development of glands reflux of semen/urine
• Haematogenous spread of bacteria:
• High concentrate diet rumenitis
• T.pyogenes

Surgical treatment

Medical treatment

• Vesiculectomy
• Ventral pararectal approach associated with fewer complications vs ischiorectal fossa
• Performed standing under epidural +/- sedation
• Incision transects anal sphincter from ischial arch to 8-15cm into rectum
• Blunt dissection along

penis

• Remove vesicles with a

chain ecraseur

• 77% recovery in young bulls (9-12m) diagnosed at BSE. Unaffected by treatment.
• Tulathromycin: 88% success rate (no pus and <1 leukocyte per field at 21-28 days).
• Ceftiofur sodium at triple dose
• NSAIDs
• Absence of palpable or

ultrasound visible abscessation

William Gratwick

9th October 2014

Conditions of the penis

Failure of erection

Clinical conditions of the reproductive organs of the bull: Their impact on fertility and (or) the breeding soundness of the bull, and methods of mitigating these impacts.

Conditions affecting the vasculature of the penis

Erection process

Contraction of ischeocavernosus muscle

• Venous shunts:
• Between CCP and dorsal vein
• Blood escapes from CCP
• Congenital (young bulls) or acquired (trauma, haematoma)
• Normal libido and mounting, excess ischiocavernosal activity and no turgor in penis
• Blockage of longitudinal canals:
• Blood unable to reach CCP distal to blockage
• Congenital blockages most common between crural canals and branches to ventral canals. Penis turgid proximal to blockage.
• Older bulls - accumulation of fibrous and atheromatous material

Occlusion of venous drainage of CCP

Increased BP within CCP

Diagnosis/treatment

Cavernosagram

• Radiographic evaluation follwing injection of contrast material into CCP
• Injection close to glans penis - lesions in distal/midshaft area
• Injection into crus penis under ultrasound guidance - also identifies more proximal lesions

Haematoma penis

• Surgical treatment of single/small numbers of shunts may be possible

Treatment

Aetiology

Acute stage

• Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories
• Hydrotherapy
• Sexual rest
• Management of complications

• Impact with the perineum of the cow during mating causes rupture of CCP through tunica albunginea
• Dorsal aspect cr to scrotum
• Ultrasound:
• acute stage homogenous
• chronic stage echodense tissue surrounded by fluid
• Complications/sequelae

Surgery

• 4-7 days later
• Drainage and flushing of haematoma through dorsolateral incision. No need to suture defect
• Improved success rate (33% to 75%) for haematomas >20cm diameter

• Conditions will be grouped by their anatomical location
• Impact of fertility and (or) breeding soundness discussed in relation to LHPG guidlelines

Conditions of the testis and epidydimis

Conditions of the prepuce/glans of the penis

Persistent frenulum

Testicular degeneration

Orchitis and epididymitis

• Remnant of connective tissue between prepuce and glans
• Angus and beef shorthorn
• May prevent normal eversion or create ventral deviation
• Surgical transection under sedation and local - consider heritable nature

Causes

Clinicial findings

Causes

Clinical findings

Acute

Lamina interna prolapse

• Acute: soft and small
• Chronic: firm and even smaller

• Heat and gross enlargement of testes
• Pain - may lead to altered gait
• Pyrexia (variable)
• Epididymitis - similar changes in this organ

• T.pyogenes most commonly isolated.
• Haematogenous spread, extension from urinary system or scrotal wound.
• Systemic bacterial condition e.g. TB or brucellosis
• ECBO, BHV Type III, LSD and B.besnoiti also implicated
• Usually unilateral and may involve the epididymis (primary epididymitis very rare vs ram)

Aetiology

Medical treatment

Infectious balanoposthitis

• Damage to Sertoli cells
• Increased temperature
• Seasonal, BCS, pyrexia, scrotal inflammation, orchitis, varicocoele
• Chemicals/Toxins
• Gossypol, ethylene dibromide, antimicrobials
• Cortisol
• Infectious
• ECBO, Epivag, BHV
• Microtrauma
• Age

Chronic

• Cleaning and disinfection
• Hydrotherapy
• Retaining tube or body sling
• Systemic antimicrobials and anti-inflammatories
• Topical ointment

• Breed succeptability:
• Weakness of caudal preputial muscle (polled Hereford and Angus)
• Pendulous prepuce with large opening and excessive amount of lamina interna
• Trauma/tick damage to lamina
• Inflammation/oedema prevents reduction of lamina
• Stenosis, phimosis, inability to extrude penis

• Ultrasound
• Increased pixel intensity of testicular parenchyma associated with unsatisfactory semen 2-4 weeks later

• Hardening and shrinking of testis

Initial objective is to allow exteriorisation of the penis so that a full assessment can be made

Surgery

Prognosis

Consequences

Surgery

Lamina interna resection

Amputation

Normal testis

Changes in the ejaculate

• BHV infection - hyperaemia, vesiculation and fibrous exudate
• Latent infection of dorsal nerve root ganglia - stress lead to re-shedding without disease
• Secondary infection - swelling and pain, can lead to adhesion formation
• Treatment with topical antibiotics
• Mycoplasma spp., Ureaplasma spp. and Haemophilus spp lead to protracted disease

• Delay until infection and inflammation are under control, wound healing has taken place and fibroplasia is underway
• Removal of strictures and allow normal exteriorisation
• Strictures caused by connective tissue band <2cm can be treated with a longitudinal incision

• Indicated if stricture > 2cm
• Circumferential incisions through the lamina proximal and distal to stricture, connected by longitudinal incision
• Removal of superficial epithelium and any damaged/fibrosed tissue and suturing of the two ends
• Success rate 90%

• Indicated when proplase cannot be reduced
• Success rate of 43% - increased risk of haemorrhage and oedema as removing full thickness of tissue.

• Normal volume and appearance with reduced motility and sperm numbers
• Spermatogenic cells
• Morphological defects

Acute stage: Changes in size and echogenicity

• Removal of underlying cause
• Follow up examination 6-8 weeks later
• Testicular biopsy:
• Intact basement membranes, patent lumens, contain spermatogonia

• Failure of BSE
• Changes in the ejaculate:
• Degenerative spermiogram
• Leukospermia
• Poor sperm reserves
• Poor prognosis
• ?Unilateral orchidectomy

Chronic stage: Widening of mediastinum testis, hyperechogenic foci and increased echogenicity of skin and tunics

Deviations of the penis

Premature spiraling

• Apical ligament slips to the left - normal after ejaculation but prevents intromission if occurs prematurely
• Can be intermittent and often resolves with experience in young bulls
• Correction by suturing apical ligament to tunica albugnica

Penile hair rings

Ventral deviation

• Weakness of the apical ligament, fails to support the tip of the penis
• Usually congenital but can occur following trauma and scar tissue formation
• Implantation of facia lata to reinforce ligament

Fibropappiloma

S-shaped deviation

• Long haired breeds
• Circumferential necrosis of the tip of the penis
• May lead to ischaemic damage to dorsal nerve of penis and loss of sensation - unable to achieve intromission and/or loss of ejaculation reflex
• Test sensation with electrical or mechanical stimulus
• Urethral fistulation affecting semen deposition

• Old bulls, penis exceeds length of apical ligament

• Cauliflower-like mass on glans or prepuce
• BPV1
• Spread amongst young bulls by mounting behaviour
• Many regress or detach, may cause ulceration, haemorrhage, inability to retract penis or urethral rupture
• Removal by dissection, electrocautery, laser or cryo
• Autogenous vaccine
• Fibrosarcomas in older bulls

- biopsy indicated