infertility in all species: workshop

case 1 - what does this image suggest, what stage does her behaviour suggest she's in

conformation - sunken anus, sloped

in early luteal phase

how long does oestrus last in horses?

3-6 days

can be variable

how long is the fertilisation period in a horse?

12 hours

when should mares be bred ?

before they ovulate, so sperm is in the tract ready for the ovum

when do we screen for bacterial venereal pathogens and why

 cause endometritis

• Screen at beginning of breeding season

• So if we diagnose endometritis we know its not one of these 3

• Stallions screened too

what is teasing

• Stallion in environment where can show behaviour response but not get to

• If mare responds likely in oestrus

case 1 - what can you see on this ultrasound

- uterus - thickened, inflammed, fluid filled (largely anechoic, some epigenic material),

- ovary - corpus haemorrhagicum and follicles

case 1 discuss this cytology?

segmented neutrophils - count amount in field in medial lens to see if its a normal amount for post mating - <5 normal - hugely inaccurate

lymphocytes

epithelial cells

endometritis - contamination of the uterus

• unlikely to stay preg

how can we prevent bacterial contam in mares when there are conformation issues with the anus and vulva

Surgically adjust the contamination

• Closes the dorsal commisure of vulva

Regually check the mare -> clean if soiled

incrs bcs if needed

what is the most common cause of infertility in the mare

post breeding endometritis

case 1 - discuss the results of this culture

commensal→ opportunistic pathogen

how might endomitritis affect the mares fertility?

may affect the mares ability to stay pregnant

case 1 how would you treat endometeritis ?

cause uterine contractions - oxytocin

lavage the uterus - remove particulate material

local antibiotics - into the uterus

case 2 - what is normal/ abnormal about asia's cyclicity

normal cyclicity

mating her too early - before the end of oestrus

how is dog ovulation different

Ovulates immature oocyte and takes few days to develop before can be fertilised

Stay in repro tract for couple days

case 2

what tests will you request ?

take a vaginal smear for cytology

request progesterone test

case 2

which antibiotic will you prescribe?

what cells are present?

what information does this give you?

- none

- nucleated cells - small intermediated nucleated epithelial cells, RBCs, neutrophil

Not in fertile period -> irrgulary shaped anucelar cells

So is too early in oestrus

- this tell us that she is not ready to mate -

case 2 what is the progesterone value ? and what does this mean with respect to time to breed ?

low progesterone value - rise occurs before ovulation and continues afterwards

retest in 2-4 days

don't advise breeding

case 2

progesterone now high enough

case 2 - what does this cause?

day of ovulation is variable

• common is d12

and so are the signs

what is the fertilisation period like in dogs

Want to breed few d after ovulation

Fertilisation period in dog is 2 d after ovulation

 

Breeding too early means sperm has to survive until few d after ovulation

what is the fertile period

when mating could result in pregnancy

case 3 - which bits of history are important and why?

average 45L - High for herd

not observed signs of oestrus

she's beyond the kpi for the herd

• so economic cost for farmer

the average of 11,000 is high for a 305 day

when do we want cows to be back in calve after calving

90d

what is voluntary wait period

Voluntary wait period= when an animal comes into oestrus but don’t ai for management reason, probs bc in peak lactation

42 d avg

what are the big 3 diseases in diary cattle

lameness

mastitis

fertility

how long is dry period

Dry period is 40-60d break before calving

case 3 - what are we going to do next?

clinical exam

rectal exam

scan her ovaries and uterus (pregnancy) -

vaginal mucous exam

- dry tacky - progesterone

- mucoid - oestrogen activity

case 3 - what is your diagnosis

small ovaries, small follicles, no dominant structures

So she is anoestrus so not cyclic -> is not ovulating

case 3 - what do we do next

there is a structure on L ovary which could be a CL→ check in 7 days

give progesterone implant to mimic luteal phase

five ovsynct - if you think there could be a CL

case 4 - whats your diagnosis?

pus in endometrium→ bc is not anechoic

endometritis

when do we see endometritis and metritis

endometritis= what we see in this stage in milk)

Metritis -> inflam of all 3 layers = what we see after calving

case 4 - how is this classified

severity - signs of health, clear discharge

grade 1 - abnormally enlarged uterus + prurulent discharge - without any systemic signs of ill health

grade 2 - additional signs of systemic illness - decreased milk yield, dullness, fever

grade 3 - poor prognosis - animals with signs of toxaemia - inappetance, cold extremities, depression and or collapse, thick white and smelly discharge

case 4 how do you treat?

antibiotics - intrauterine - scoring 3 or more

give prostaglandins - causes contractions of myometrium, removes CL, oestrogens would help clear discharge

case 4 what are risk factors for this?

- retained foetal membranes

- dystocia

- uterine inertia - hypoglycaemia, negative energy balance

case 5 - what is your presumptive diagnosis ? and why ?

follicular cyst 30 mm roughly

• abnormal large structure

• presumptive bc cyst needs to be therefor 7 days and more than 2.5 cm

  • so this is a guess from a one off visit

pedometer and nymphomania - suggest oestrus (18-24 hours)

• however has been longer

there is also a follicle

• Is more active than the cyst bc has a strong wall and is more robust

  So cyst might not eb functional

  But cant tell for fact is an assumption

case 5 - how do we treat this?

do nothing - might be non-dominant, will take weeks to disappear

OR

give ovsync - GNRH - luteinises structures, second dose of prostaglandin to remove CL, this would restart normal cycle.

or use PRID device to mimic luteal phase

nymphomania

hypersexuality

excessive sexual behaviour

case 6 - why do we measure testes size ?

Larger testes → Higher sperm count & motility.

case 6 - what impacts testicular size?

>Age
>nutrition
>seasonality (sheep are seasonal breeders so testes are smaller outside of season)
>Health status

case 6 - what are the 5 Ts of rams breeding soundness exam

>Testes – Size, symmetry, firmness.

>Teeth – Good dentition for adequate nutrition.

>Toes – Hoof health to ensure mobility.

>Tone – Body condition score (BCS) 3-3.5.

>Tossle (Penis) – Check for lesions, infection, or injuries.