Breeding Soundness of Stallion Flashcards
1
Q
General physical exam
A
- abnormalities that affect mating (e.g. lameness, ataxia, back pain, cryptochidism (undescended testes), wobler syndrome (disease of cervical spine, compression of nerves and spinal cord))
- examination of all systems
2
Q
External genetailia
- ways to check
- process of checking
A
- inspect penis by stimulating penile tumescence through exposure of mare in oestrus
- difficult to do it manually (resistance from horse)
- tranquilisation causes penile prolapse so can be accessed BUT can cause penile paralysis and could cause ataxia which can interfere with mounting
- cleanse penis = epithelial debris and secretions from preputial glands accumulates
- root and proximal body buried in tissue = only examination glans and exposed body
- check for penile lesions: habronema granulomas, squamous cell carcinomas
3
Q
External genitalia - scrotum
A
- skin = thin and elastic
- hang down loosely but toward body during palpation due to voluntary contractions of cremaster muscles
- size/texture/position = tested for breeding soundness (size of testes correlates with daily sperm production output)
- estimate volume to quantify size
4
Q
What should be assumed if predicted daily sperm output is less than actual DSO
A
low spermatic efficiency from testicular dysfunction
LSE associated with increased degeneration of testicular germ cells - contribute to ejaculation of low numbers of normal sperm
5
Q
External genitalia - spermatic cord
A
- transcrotal ultrasound examination visualise structures
- acute pain associated with torsion (twist) of spermatic cord. result in congestion of testis with thickening and engorgement of spermatic cord from vascular obstruction
6
Q
internal genetalia
A
- palpation via rectum
- need effective restraint for safe examination
- place in a stock with solid door just at top of leg level - too high = damage operator arm if horse squat abruptly, too low = stallion kick
7
Q
Libido and mating ability
A
- immediate desire for mare by restlessness, pawing, vocalisation, sniffing and licking
- reduced libido = mismanagement (common) overuse or repeated abusive punishment for expressing sexual interst
- length of coutship and no. mounts for ejaculation increase in winter
- common physical abnormality for mating = hind leg lameness
8
Q
Bacterial genital infections
- why check
- bacteria that causes contagious equine metritis
A
- can infect mares reproductive tract during coitus
- bacteria not considered pathogens unless heavy growth serially or cause endometritis in mares post mating
- Taylorella equigenitalis = causes contageous equine metritis
- stallion leisonless carrier
9
Q
Internal genital infections
- most often associated
- how test
A
= seminal vesiculitis
- remove debris from glans penis and fossa glandis
- wash with surgical scrub
- dry thouroughly so urethral orafice not contaminated
- cotton swab inserted 3-5cm into distal urethra
- after collecting semen, swabed again immidiately
10
Q
Viral genital disease - equine coital exanthema
- caused by
- looks
A
- caused by equine herpes virus 3
- blisters on penile body
- form pustules that ulcerate
- resolve in 2-4 weeks
- fertility not affected (unless painful enough to interfere breeding)
- lifelong carrier state
- delay breeding until lesions healed to stop virus transmission
11
Q
Viral genital disease - equine viral arteritis
- caused by
- signs
- why problem to mares
- confirm virus with…
A
- caused by togavirus
- subclinical infection mostly (can cause illness 1 to 10 days after infection)
- signs: edema of scrotum and limbs, fever, stiffness of gait, skin rash (abortion in mare) ~ aborted fetus, membranes and fluid infective to susceptible horses = abortion storm in herd preg mares
- long term asymptomatic carriers
- confirm disease with pcr test
- vaccinate seronegative mares with vaccine (separate from infected horses = prevent seroconversion
