Ultrasound as tool for diagnosis of diseases of the reproductive tract bulls

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The purpose of this study was to evaluate by ultrasound and breeding soundness examination (BSE) the major diseases affecting the reproductive tract of Nelore bulls, bred extensively in the state of Para, Brazil. Fifty-nine pure Nelore bulls were used, aged between 5 to 10 years, raised extensively in a commercial farm in the municipality of Paragominas, Pará state, Brazil. Scrotal circumference, testicular length and width were measured. Semen collection for evaluation of ejaculate volume, wave motion, motility, vigor, concentration and sperm pathologies was performed. Ultrasound examination was performed by equipment type Ultrasonic Transducer -CHISON/D600vet, linear transducers, where the frequency used was 5 MHz, being held two images of each testis, the longitudinal-lateral, lateral and transverse planes. The images were processed using the program Image J. The data were analyzed using the statistical program SAS (2000) and means were compared using Tukey's test (p<0.05). Among the fifty-nine bulls evaluated, 39 (66.1%) were classified as suitable for breeding and 20 (33.8 %) were classified as unsuitable. Throughout the use of ultrasonography changes as testicular degeneration one case (1.6%), one of orchitis (1.6%), one of hydrocele (1.6%), nine of calcification (15.2%) and two cysts in the testicular region parenchyma (3.3%) were found. The average scrotal circumference was 38.6±2.4 and 40.4±3.6 cm for the animals fit and unfit for reproduction categories respectively, observing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The average physical characteristics of semen for breeding animals was 74.2±18.8% for motility, 2.9±1.62% for wave motion, 3.2±1.08% for vigor, 4.7 ± 2.58 mL for volume, 0.84 ± 0.56 x106 sperm/mm 3 concentration and 9.4±4.7% of total sperm pathologies. For the unfit animals data was 73.2±24.6% for motility, 2.8±1.78% for wave motion, 3.3±1.17 vigor, 4.5 ± 2.16 mL volume, 27±0.14% of total sperm pathologies and 0.85±0.51 x 10 6 sperm/mm 3 for concentration. Statistical differences in the percentage of total sperm pathologies between fit and unfit animals was observed (P<0.05). The mean pixel intensity of testicular parenchyma was 45.35 to 45.25 for fit for animals unfit animals, without any statistical difference (P>0.05). Thus, it can be concluded that ultrasonography is an essential complementary tool in the diagnosis of reproductive disorders in animals subjected to BSE and its use should be recommended.

Identificación de lesiones testiculares no palpables por medio de ultrasonografía en toros

“…Así como en el presente estudio (Figura 2), donde se observaron diversas alteraciones durante la evaluación ultrasonográfica de los órganos reproductivos, Gnemmi & Lefebvre (2009) también identificaron lesiones palpables y no palpables. Sousa et al (2015) evaluaron toros de raza Nelore entre 5 y 10 años y hallaron a la evaluación ultrasonográfica animales con degeneración testicular, orquitis, hidrocele, calcificación y quistes en la región del parénquima testicular, recomendando su uso como herramienta de diagnóstico complementaria. Chapwanya et al (2008), al evaluar 32 taurinos con media de 5,6 años de edad, identificaron siete toros con lesiones testiculares detectables al examen ultrasonográfico, dos de ellos, con grados de fibrosis testicular a punto de comprometer la calidad seminal, indicando que la ultrasonografía testicular es más sensible y confiable como modalidad de diagnóstico de lo que la sola palpación.…”

“…Con el objeto de propiciar un diagnóstico rápido, preciso y seguro, la ultrasonografía se constituye en un método valioso en la reproducción animal, ya que permite evaluar los órganos reproductivos internos con precisión anatómica y de forma no invasiva, segura y puede ser usada rutinariamente (Ribadu & Nakao, 1999;Kastelic & Brito, 2012;Sousa et al 2015;Tomlinson et al 2017). De esta manera, el uso de la ultrasonografía asociada al examen andrológico se muestra importante, especialmente, en la identifi cación y la caracterización de patologías subclínicas (Kastelic & Brito, 2012;Kastelic, 2014).…”

Unilateral Spermatic Cyst and Granuloma in the Bovine Epididymis

“…Examined 59 Nellore's bulls, two cases (3.3%) of cysts in the testicular parenchyma were found and nine cases (14.7%) of testicular calcification, characterized by hyperechoic points (Sousa et al, 2015). The spermiogram revealed low motility (50%) and a high percentage of major pathologies (10.5%).…”