Urospermia indicating ectopic ureters in breeding dogs – 3 cases

Abstract

An Entlebucher Mountain Dog (57 months old, case 1), a Labrador Retriever (24 months, case 2) and an Irish Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier (31 months old, case 3) were presented for breeding soundness evaluation to the clinic. During semen collection in all 3 dogs, the pre-secretion and the sperm-rich fraction showed normal consistency and colour, whereas the prostatic secretion (3 rd ejaculate fraction) appeared strikingly yellow. In cases 1 and 2, a severely decreased sperm motility (asthenozoospermia) and an increased amount of abnormal spermatozoa (teratozoospermia), and in case 3, a moderately decreased total sperm count (oligozoospermia) were detected. Sonographical examination revealed abnormal findings regarding the uretero-vesical junction and ectopic ureters. Therefore it is concluded that urine admixture to the 3 rd ejaculate fraction may indicate the presence of ectopic ureters and may cause impairment of semen quality and fertility. The present cases raise questions regarding urospermia concerning: 1. its incidence in dogs in general and in connection with ectopic ureters and 2. its relevance as a cause of deficient ejaculate quality and subfertility or infertility.

Diagnostic tests in canine andrology - What do they really tell us about fertility?

“…Other semen collection techniques are urethral catheterization and electro ejaculation. However, this procedure is much more invasive and may lead to urine contamination [70], which in turn may impair semen quality and fertility [71].…”

Outcome of selective mating in the Entlebucher Mountain Dog for reduction of ureteral ectopia

“…25,30,31,57,59,61 Rüden hingegen zeigen erste Inkontinenzepisoden teilweise erst im fortgeschrittenen Alter 32,59 oder fallen durch eine reduzierte Fertilität und Urospermie auf. 23 Ureterozele, Hydronephrose (HN) und Hydroureter (HU) sind assoziierte Befunde, aber auch Fehlbildungen wie renale Dysplasie, Kryptorchismus, vaginale oder urethrale Septen werden bei Hunden mit EU häufiger beobachtet. 16,20,22,32,40,45,72 Aufsteigende Harntraktinfektionen, 8,31,32,42,45 seltener HN und HU, 67 führen zu klinischen Beschwerden, bei fehlender medikamentöser und/oder chirurgischer Korrektur sogar zum Tod.…”