The value of trans-scrotal ultrasonography at bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE): The relationship between testicular parenchymal pixel intensity and semen quality

Abstract

Bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE) is commonly undertaken to identify bulls that are potentially unfit for use as breeding sires. Various studies worldwide have found that approximately 20% of the bulls fail their routine prebreeding BBSE and are therefore considered subfertile. Multiple articles describe the use of testicular ultrasound as a noninvasive aid in the identification of specific testicular and epididymal lesions. Two previous studies have hypothesized a correlation between ultrasonographic testicular parenchymal pixel intensity (PI) and semen quality; however to date, no published studies have specifically examined this link. The aim of this study, therefore, was to assess the relationship between testicular parenchymal PI (measured using trans-scrotal ultrasonography) and semen quality (measured at BBSE), and the usefulness of testicular ultrasonography as an aid in predicting future fertility in bulls, in particular those that are deemed subfertile at the first examination. A total of 162 bulls from 35 farms in the South East of Scotland were submitted to routine BBSE and testicular ultrasonography between March and May 2014, and March and May 2015. Thirty-three animals failed their initial examination (BBSE1) due to poor semen quality, and were re-examined (BBSE2) 6 to 8 weeks later. Computer-aided image analysis and gross visual lesion scoring were performed on all ultrasonograms, and results were compared to semen quality at BBSE1 and BBSE2. The PI measurements were practical and repeatable in a field setting, and although the results of this study did not highlight any biological correlation between semen quality at BBSE1 or BBSE2 and testicular PI, it did identify that gross visual lesion scoring of testicular images is comparable to computer analysis of PI (P < 0.001) in identifying animals suffering from gross testicular fibrosis.

Effects of testicular hemodynamic and echogenicity changes on ram semen characteristics

“…Varied are the results of other researches, as a direct correlation was demonstrated between pixel heterogeneity of rams’ testicular parenchyma and the percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal tails (Ahmadi et al., ). Besides, Tomlinson, Jennings, Macrae, and Truyers () reported no significant correlation between semen morphology and testicular pixel intensity of bulls’ testicular parenchyma. Semen motility and viability are substantial quality parameters that play a determinant role for the successfulness of AI.…”

“…Yet, we did not find any correlation of the Doppler and ultrasonographical examinations with the major kinetic and motility variables. Researchers who studied the correlation of motility and testis echotexture, either inversely correlated pixel heterogeneity to progressive motility (Ahmadi et al., ), or reported no significant correlation between motility and testicular pixel intensity (Tomlinson et al., ). No published data about the relation between semen viability and testis echogenicity are available.…”

Biometric Indicators, Testicular Parameters and Semen Characteristics in Peripubertal and Postpubertal Pleven Blackhead Rams

“…Recently, ultrasound determination of testicular diameters and parenchymal echogenicity have been used for evaluation of the reproductive abilities in bulls and rams (Ribeiro et al, 2017;Tomlinson et al, 2017;Saaed and Zaid, 2018;Camela et al, 2019;Elbaz and Razek, 2019). The ultrasound measurement of different testicular diameters is commonly used for reproductive assessment of rams but the obtained results are rather various.…”

“…The numerical pixel values (NPVs) and standard deviation of numerical pixel values (sdNPVs) are criteria for evaluation of testicular echotexture or echogenicity and pixel heterogeneity, respectively (Chandolia et al, 1997;Giffin et al, 2014). The echogenicity of testicular parenchyma was shown as an indicator for semen production and quality that has been used for determination of testicular maturation in male animals (Ahmadi et al, 2013;Moxon et al, 2015;Tomlinson et al, 2017;Saaed and Zaid, 2018).…”

<b>Degeneração testicular em touros:</b> alterações espermáticas e sua relação com a termodinâmica e hemodinâmica testicular

“…Na medicina veterinária é utilizado para estudo do aparelho reprodutor em bodes e carneiros (AHMAD; NOAKES; SUBANDRIO, 1991;MIDDLETON, 1993;CARAZO et al, 2014;AILUGAMI et al, 2017), garanhões (DELVENTO, et al, 1992;VARNER et al, 2000;POZOR et al, 2017) e touros (COULTER; SHORE et al, 1995;EVANS et al, 1996;BRITO et al, 2003;BRITO, 2005;BARTH et al, 2008;AHMAD et al, 2011;BRITO, 2012;TOMLINSON et al, 2017) CARRILLO et al, 2012). No caso do homem, essa ferramenta é utilizada para a caracterização de inúmeras doenças dos testículos, como por exemplo, a orquite (DUDEA, et al, 2010) e utilizada em correlações com a fertilidade em camelídeos (KUTZLER et al, 2002).…”