Urethral defects in geldings with hematuria and stallions with hemospermia

Surgery of the Equine Urinary Tract

Urinary surgery in the horse may be challenging. More straightforward procedures, such as urinary bladder or urachal defects, do not usually require specialized equipment or imaging, although laboratory work is helpful. Congenital or acquired conditions of the ureters or kidneys may necessitate advanced diagnostic work-ups including advanced imaging /or and minimally invasive procedures. Some surgery of the lower urinary tract is done in the sedated, standing adult horse. Surgery involving the kidney typically requires general anesthesia. Laparoscopy and associated tools are frequently used. Although many of the surgical procedures discussed are quite involved, they are becoming more commonplace.

Discolored Urine in Horses and Foals

This article describes the most common causes of urine discoloration. The review includes a description of the most common disorders causing hematuria, highlighting clinical presentation, treatments, and pathophysiology. Causes of hemoglobinuria and myoglobinuria together with their mechanisms of renal injury are also reviewed.

New Treatment for Urethral Rent in Stallions

The aim of this report is to describe a new methodology to successfully treat stallions diagnosed with urethral rent. Four stallions of ages ranging from 7 to 12 years (median 9) with hemospermia were admitted for clinical evaluation, breeding soundness examination, and urethroscopy for inspection of the urethra and vesicular glands. Once the presence of urethral rent was identified and/or other sources of hemorrhage were excluded, a topical treatment was performed with 4% Policresulen solution (Albocresil). The treatment was carried out by infusing 100 mL of the solution into the lumen of the urethra through a catheter placed up to the region of the ischial arch. This procedure was repeated once daily, or at 48 hours intervals, resulting in a total of 4-7 infusions. In all cases, chemical cauterization was efficient in the healing of the urethral rent. However, due to masturbation during treatment, one animal did not completely heal, and the treatment with the Policresulen was prolonged. It is believed that the low pH of the solution resulted in urethritis, which was treated with systemic therapy of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal. Topical treatment with 4% Policresulen was found to be efficient in the chemical cauterization of urethral rent in stallions. This treatment was efficient, practical, less invasive, and less costly than the alternative of surgical methods, which are more invasive and require longer recovery time of the animal. However, sexual rest and the elimination of sexual stimuli from the environment are essential management in association with this therapeutic method.

Standing male equine urogenital surgery

The advantages of performing standing male urogenital surgeries are numerous when compared with performing the same surgery in the anesthetized animal. Some traditional standing male urogenital surgeries, such as castrations, may be faster and cheaper to perform. Laparoscopic standing male urogenital surgeries may allow for improved visualization of the surgical field, decreased hemorrhage, and decreased morbidity and convalescence. Limitations of standing procedures may include increased danger to the surgeon because of fractious behavior of the patient, and increased expense and training associated with instrumentation for specialized procedures such as laparoscopy.

Buccal mucosal urethroplasty for treatment of recurrent hemospermia in a stallion

CASE

Description-An 11-year-old Quarter Horse stallion was admitted for intermittent hemospermia of 4 years' duration.

CLINICAL FINDINGS

A linear vertical defect had been detected endoscopically following multiple episodes of hemospermia on the caudodorsal convex surface of the urethra at the level of the ischial arch.

TREATMENT AND OUTCOME

When sexual rest alone did not result in complete healing of the urethral defect, a subischial urethrotomy and buccal mucosal urethroplasty were performed. The surgical site healed without complication. Four months of sexual rest was recommended after surgery. Repeat endoscopy at 4 months allowed inspection of the urethral graft site. Following endoscopic examination, resumption of semen collection was recommended on the basis of the apparent healing at the urethral defect site. Hemospermia did not reoccur following surgical repair.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Buccal mucosal urethroplasty resulted in a favorable outcome in a stallion with recurrent hemospermia. Buccal mucosal urethroplasty may be a useful surgical option in stallions that have hemospermia secondary to a urethral defect and do not heal with sexual rest alone.

SEMEN COLLECTION IN RHINOCEROSES (RHINOCEROS UNICORNIS, DICEROS BICORNIS, CERATOTHERIUM SIMUM) BY ELECTROEJACULATION WITH A UNIQUELY DESIGNED PROBE

Electroejaculation in rhinoceroses has historically yielded inconsistent results, with the collection of high-quality, sperm-rich samples rare. The goal of this study was to develop a reliable method of electroejaculation in the rhinoceros by designing a rectal probe that appropriately fits the anatomy of this taxon and refining the procedure. A curved probe handle ending in an oblate, ellipsoid head was built using readily available supplies. A combination of rectal massage, penile massage, and electrical stimulation with a specially designed probe was employed in attempts to collect semen on 14 occasions from greater one-horned rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis; n = 4), black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis; n = 2) and a southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum; n = 1). During 13 of the 14 attempts, ejaculates were collected in multiple fractions. All but one of the ejaculates contained spermatozoa, and seven ejaculates contained good-quality fractions of semen (-60% sperm motility; > or =20 x 106 spermatozoa/ml) suitable for sperm banking and assisted reproduction procedures. Mean (+/-SEM) values for volume, pH, osmolality, and total sperm number for ejaculates containing good-quality fractions (98.2 +/-21.8 ml, 8.5+/-0.1, 290.4+/-6.7 mOsm, and 37.1+/-12.0 x 10(9), respectively) did not differ (P > 0.05) from those containing only poor-quality samples. Urine and/or erythrocyte contamination was not uncommon in fractions of both ejaculate types. Males producing good-quality samples ranged in age from 7 to 34 yr. None of the samples contained > or =75% morphologically normal spermatozoa. Electroejaculation with a uniquely designed probe consistently produced ejaculates in the rhinoceros. However, the production of high-quality samples continued to be challenging, occurring in only 50% of collection attempts. Regardless, the technology has progressed to a stage at which good-quality semen samples can be produced for sperm banking and assisted reproduction, and thereby can be integrated into intensive rhinoceros management strategies for the ultimate survival of this taxon.

Encrusted cystitis secondary to Corynebacterium matruchotii infection in a horse

A 17-year-old gelding was evaluated because of dysuria, inappetence, and weight loss. Cystoscopy revealed severe mucosal ecchymoses with luminal hemorrhage and accumulations of crystalloid sludge. Analysis of a urine sample revealed isosthenuria, an alkaline pH, pyuria, hematuria, bacteriuria, and numerous calcium carbonate crystals. Histologic examination of bladder mucosa biopsy specimens revealed severe neutrophilic infiltration with mineralization. A diagnosis of encrusted cystitis exacerbated by sabulous urolithiasis was made. A Corynebacterium sp susceptible to penicillin, sulfonamide, and enrofloxacin was cultured from the urine and the bladder mucosa biopsy specimens. The horse was treated with penicillin G potassium, IV, for 5 days, followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 4 weeks. Bladder lavage was performed daily for the first 3 days with a balanced electrolyte solution and dimethyl sulfoxide in an attempt to aid expulsion of necrotic debris and crystalline sludge from the bladder. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rDNA gene sequence was used to identify the isolate and determine its phylogenetic position. Results indicated that the isolate was closely related to Corynebacterium matruchotii. To our knowledge, encrusted cystitis secondary to C matruchotii has not been previously identified in a horse.

Techniques for evaluating selected reproductive disorders of stallions

Numerous techniques may be used for evaluation of the different reproductive disorders of the stallion. Approaches may vary from real-time ultrasonography and biopsy for evaluating testicular tumors to use of special assays for evaluating sperm or plasma for presence of antisperm antibodies. This communication addresses techniques used to evaluate five relatively uncommon, but perplexing, disorders of breeding stallions: (1) seminal vesiculitis, (2) hemospermia associated with idiopathic urethral defects, (3) acrosomal dysfunction, (4) abnormal spermatozoal chromatin, and (5) azoospermia.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the urethral process in a horse with hemospermia and self-mutilation behavior

A 14-year-old Arabian stallion was examined because of acute hemospermia. The stallion was used in an artificial breeding program and had a 6-year history of low-grade hemospermia and a 4-year history of self-mutilation behavior. During previous examinations, minor irritation of the urethral process was identified as the source of the bleeding. Physical examination revealed a mucosal ulceration in the distal portion of the urethra. Histologic examination of a biopsy specimen from this area revealed low-grade squamous cell carcinoma. The urethral process was excised, and the hemospermia resolved. Frequency of self-mutilation behaviors also decreased after surgery, suggesting that there may have been a link between irritation of the urethral process and development of self-mutilation behavior.