Male infertility and breeding soundness exam

Question 1

List 6 things to look at when performing clinical exam when investigating male infertility

Answer 1

observe from distance- lameness, posture demeanour
TPR and BCS
Teeth to check age/alignment
check eyes for cataeacts
brisket- check for sores
legs - check range of motion

Question 2

why are bulls/rams with BCS of 2 or less deemed unsatisfactory

Answer 2

they are unlikely to perform adequately during intensive breeding

Question 3

why are bulls/rams with a BCS of over 4 deemed unsatisfactory for breeding

Answer 3

they may suffer poor semen quality due to the deposition of fat in the scrotum leading to thermo-regulation problems

Question 4

why are post-legged bulls/rams not good for breeding

Answer 4

increased risk of lameness due to hock, stifle or hip joint pathology

Question 5

what are puffy hocks

Answer 5

swollen hocks due to excessive synovial fluid

Question 6

why should bulls/rams with puffy hocks be avoided

Answer 6

distension of the hock joint may be caused by osteochondrosis which can progress to lameness

Question 7

do feet and leg abnormalities affect semen quality

Answer 7

no but they may affect libido

Question 8

describe the normal scrotal shape

Answer 8

straight sided
normal (pendulous)
wedge-shaped

Question 9

why might the testes not move easily within the scrotum

Answer 9

adhesions due to previous infections or inflammation may be present

Question 10

what is orchitis

Answer 10

inflammation of the testes

Question 11

what disease could cause orchitis as a primary symptom

Answer 11

brucella ovis

Question 12

why is scrotal circumference important

Answer 12

it is highly correlatedto paired testes weight, daily sperm production and semen quality

Question 13

what can cause scrotal dermatitis in rams

Answer 13

chorioptic mange

Question 14

what can cause a congenital scrotal hypoplasia

Answer 14

abnormality of blood supply
(belgian blue bulls)

Question 15

what is normal scrotal circumference in rams

Answer 15

> 33cm
or
30cm for ram lambs

Question 16

what can cause hard and small testicles

Answer 16

post-traumatic scarring or fibrosis/calcification with age

Question 17

what can cause soft testicles

Answer 17

tubular atrophy

Question 18

what can cause enlarged testicles

Answer 18

neoplasia

Question 19

what is spermatocoele

Answer 19

Sperm-filled cyst near the head of the epididymis
Usually asymptomatic

Question 20

how can we examine the accessory sex glands

Answer 20

via digital or rectal exam

via ultrasound

Question 21

List 4 viral causes of male infertility in cattle

Answer 21

IBR
BVD
EBL
bluetongue

Question 22

List 7 bacterial causes of male inferility in cattle

Answer 22

campylobacter,
brucella
TB
lepto
Johnes
mycoplasma
ureaplasma

Question 23

List 2 viral causes of male infertility in sheep

Answer 23

bluetongue and possibly schmallenberg

Question 24

List 4 bacterial causes of male infertility in sheep

Answer 24

brucella ovis
possibly Johnes
mycoplasma
ureaplasma

Question 25

how can we collect semen in ruminants

Answer 25

Artificial vagina
electro-ejaculation

Question 26

how can we collect semen in stallions

Answer 26

Artificial vagina

Question 27

how can we collect semen in boars

Answer 27

Artificial vagina
digital manipulation
electro-ejaculation

Question 28

why is electro-ejaculation semen collection not considered standard

Answer 28

it is painful and should only be used when absolutely necessary

Question 29

what is normal semen colour

Answer 29

white- yellow

Question 30

what can green semen indicate

Answer 30

pseudomonas aeruginosa

Question 31

how can we assess gross motility of semen

Answer 31

assessed by placing 5-10mm drop of fresh semen on a clean warmed slide and examining under low power

Question 32

minimum progressive motility to pass a semen examination

Answer 32

60%

Question 33

List the 3 things that gross motility depends on

Answer 33

concentration
% progressively motile sperm
speed of progression of sperm

Question 34

what percentage of sperm should be morphologically normal

Answer 34

over 70%

Question 35

what stain is used on semen smears

Answer 35

eosin-nigrosin

Question 36

what are proximal cytoplasmic droplets a sign of

Answer 36

disturbed epididymal or testicular function

Question 37

what can high number of sperm with detached heads indicate

Answer 37

can indicate sperm has accumulated in the epididymis

if they don’t clear after a few ejaculates, it can indicate an underlying cause - i.e. stress or abnormal thermoregulation

Question 38

what can cause distal midpiece reflex / bent tails

Answer 38

can be from in proper sperm handling or can be due to inappropriate sperm maturation

Question 39

what can cause severely coiled tails - Dag defect

Answer 39

due to disturbances of spermatogenesis

or can be from a genetic cause

Question 40

what can cause distal cytoplasmic droplets

Answer 40

can indicate an abnormality of seminal fluids or ejaculation

Question 41

what can cause nuclear vacuoles

Answer 41

heat stress

Question 42

what can high levels of epithelial cells in semen indicate

Answer 42

inflammation of the accessory sex glands or urethra

Question 43

what can white blood cells or bacteria in semen indicate

Answer 43

contamination or evidence of infection/ inflammation

Question 44

what can spheroids in semen indicate

Answer 44

testicular pathology such as degeneration or hypoplasia

Question 45

what are spheroids

Answer 45

spermatogenic epithelial cells that have been shed from the seminiferous tubules

Question 46

How do we AI in cows

Answer 46

trans-cervical catheterisation

Question 47

How do we AI in sheep

Answer 47

laproscopic intra-uterine insemination