Trypanosomosis has been recognized as one of the major limitations to livestock production in the African continent. In addition to its clinical manifestations such as weight loss, lethargy, weakness and dullness, reproductive organs are also affected which has led to reduction of fertility in infected farm animals. This paper highlighted the major dimensions of reproductive dysfunctions induced by African animal trypanosomosis in male animals with emphasis on ruminants and simultaneously discussed how the pathogenesis lead to the observed reproductive disorders with the aim of identifying areas of ambiguity where further research need to be focused. Testicular degeneration, reduced libido, orchitis and poor semen characteristics have been established in infected males. Studies of receptors of these reproductive hormones under trypanosomosis infection are very rare in literature and hence, the involvement of endocrine glands most especially the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus remains inexplicit enough. A sequential investigation of the relationship between the concurrent pathological changes in reproductive and endocrine organs, reproductive hormones and their respective receptors as well as the reproductive performance of animals suffering from trypanosomosis are suggested. This will improve our knowledge on the pathogenesis of trypanosomosis as it affects reproduction while promoting development and implementation of strategies to contain the disease in food animals.
Retention of placenta is one of the most common postpartum conditions in farm animals associated with infertility when not treated promptly and adequately. In this report, three different cases of placenta retention recently handled at Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria are described. In the first case, the cow had a normal calving but the placenta was not expelled about 20 hours after calving. This was treated successfully with oxytocin after oestrogen priming of the uterus. The placenta was expelled 6 hours after the oxytocin injection. The second cow had a dystocia with the foetal head stuck and hanging out of vulva for over 12 hours before veterinary consultation. Episiotomy was done to deliver the dead calf and was associated with placenta retention. The case was successfully treated by applying gentle traction on the little stump of the placenta hanging out of the vulva. The third case was observed in a cattle market in which parturition was induced by stress of transporting the cow over a long distance. A pendulous weight was hung on the little placenta stump hanging from the vulva. On the following morning, treatment could not be continued as the cow had been sold off. Conditions capable of causing stress should be avoided in pregnant animal. In conclusion, this report has shown that retention of placenta is a frequent clinical phenomenon in cattle and can be successfully treated with gentle traction and oxytocin administration.
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