Search Results
You are looking at 1 - 7 of 7 items for
- Author or Editor: Dickson D. Varner x
- Refine by Access: All Content x
SUMMARY
Three ejaculates from each of 3 stallions were used to evaluate a computerized system (Hamilton-Thorn motility analyzer; htma) for measuring equine spermatozoal motility. Variance components (ejaculate-within-stallion, chamber-within-ejaculate, and microscopic field-within-chamber) were determined for each stallion after diluting ejaculates to 25 × 106 spermatozoa/ml with a skim milk-glucose seminal extender. The htma was compared with frame-by-frame playback videomicrography (video) for determining: percentage of spermatozoal motility and spermatozoal number in microscopic fields; curvilinear velocity and straight-line velocity of individual spermatozoa for 5 track types; and repeatability of those velocity measurements. The effect of spermatozoal number per microscopic field on incidence of intersecting spermatozoa and the outcome of intersecting spermatozoa also were evaluated. Greatest variability in motility measures was generally attributed to the microscopic field-within-chamber component. The htma was highly correlated with video for estimation of spermatozoal numbers per microscopic field (r = 0.99; P < 0.001) and motility (r = 0.97; P < 0.001); however over the entire range of spermatozoal numbers, the htma yielded higher spermatozoal numbers per microscopic field (P < 0.05) and higher motility (P < 0.05) than did video. The htma- and video-derived measurements of curvilinear and straight-line velocities were highly correlated for all spermatozoal track types, but both measures were higher (P < 0.05) by use of the htma than by use of video for most track types. For 3 of 5 track types, measurements of curvilinear and straight-line velocities were less variable (P < 0.05), using the htma, rather than video. Using the htma, the number of intersecting spermatozoa was highly correlated with spermatozoal numbers per microscopic field (r = 0.97; P < 0.001). The percentage of erroneous track interpretations involving intersecting spermatozoa was high (85.3 ± 2.7%). The htma was a reliable system for determining percentage of spermatozoal motility and velocity measures in video recordings of equine semen diluted to spermatozoal concentration of 25 × 106/ml prior to evaluation.
Abstract
Case Description—6 mares with pyometra secondary to transluminal cervical adhesions were examined.
Clinical Findings—Reasons for hospital admission included infertility (5 mares) and acute colic (1 mare). In the 6 mares, palpation per rectum of the reproductive tract revealed uterine distention, and transrectal ultrasonography confirmed the presence of echogenic fluid accumulation within the uterus. Cervical palpation during vaginal speculum examination indicated transluminal cervical adhesions. Three mares had severe distortion of the cervix as a result of diverticula and fibrosis. All 6 mares had a diagnosis of pyometra secondary to transluminal cervical adhesions.
Treatment and Outcome—Initially, the cervical adhesions were manually broken down to establish a patent cervical lumen to accommodate a uterine lavage catheter. A sample of the uterine content was obtained for bacteriologic culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and the uterus was lavaged with 0.05% povidone-iodine solution to remove the mucopurulent exudate. Once the uterus was evacuated, cervical surgery was performed in standing mares following sedation and caudal epidural anesthesia. A full-thickness wedge-shaped defect was made in the dorsolateral aspect of the cervix that created a permanent opening to the uterus. Postoperative care included applying topical medication to the cervix to reduce the recurrence of adhesion formation. All 6 mares had patent cervices and resolution of pyometra following surgery.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Cervical wedge resection enabled treatment of pyometra in mares with transluminal cervical adhesions, without the need for ovariohysterectomy. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015;246:1354–1357)
Summary
Postoperative performance and behavioral patterns were investigated retrospectively in 23 client-owned mares after bilateral ovariectomy via colpotomy. The interval from surgery to postoperative inquiries ranged from 9 to 67 months. Information obtained from review of the medical record and client interviews included the reason for ovariectomy, postoperative complications, problems identified by owners after discharge of the mare from the hospital, postoperative level of athletic performance, postoperative signs of estrus, and overall owner satisfaction. Reasons given by owners for having mares ovariectomized were behavioral modification (16 mares), use as embryo-transfer recipients (3 mares), use as mount mares for collecting semen (2 mares), elimination of chronic colic during estrus (1 mare), and sterilization for registration (1 mare). Postoperative complications developed in 4% (1/23) of the mares; however, problems were noticed by the owners of 4 other mares after discharge from the hospital. Continuing signs of behavioral estrus were detected in 35% (8/23) of the mares, but in only in 9% (2/23) was the behavior judged to be objectionable by the owner. Of 12 mares used in performance events prior to bilateral ovariectomy, 10 were judged to be competing at greater than preoperative levels, 1 was judged to be competing at the same level, and 1 was judged to be competing at less than preoperative level of performance. Of 18 owners, 14 were satisfied, 2 were undecided, and 2 were dissatisfied with their mare after it had had bilateral ovariectomy.
Abstract
Case Description—6 geldings and 5 stallions were evaluated from January 2007 through April 2009 for the following conditions requiring phallectomy: chronic paraphimosis (n = 7), squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (3), and priapism (1).
Clinical Findings—None of the 7 horses with paraphimosis was able to retract the penis. Chronicity of the paraphimosis in 6 horses ranged from 2 weeks to 2 months and was unknown in the seventh horse. Horses with paraphimosis had been medically treated without success. The horse with priapism had developed the condition secondary to acepromazine administration 2 days prior to referral and was unsuccessfully treated once by intracavernosal administration of phenylephrine and irrigation of the cavernosal tissues prior to surgery. The 3 horses with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis had had the condition for 2 years and had been treated by repeated application of a cryogen or chemotherapeutic agent to the lesions.
Treatment and Outcome—All 11 horses underwent a partial phallectomy by means of a modified Vinsot technique. Modifications to the original technique included creation of a linear urethrostomy, alteration of the location and shape of the urethrostomy, application of a latex tourniquet, concurrent castration of stallions, and use of the procedure in standing horses. The procedure was technically easy to perform, well tolerated by the horses, and cosmetically acceptable to the owners, and had minimal postoperative complications. Long-term follow-up information was obtained from owners of 10 horses a median of 454 days after surgery; 2 owners reported mild urine scalding as the only adverse effect.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The modified Vinsot technique of partial phallectomy was effective and may be useful for horses that are unsuitable candidates for general anesthesia because of medical or owner financial constraints.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the signalment, clinical features, and outcome for male horses with urethral rents following perineal urethrotomy (PU) or corpus spongiotomy (CS).
DESIGN Retrospective case series.
ANIMALS 33 horses.
PROCEDURES Medical records of male horses examined because of hematuria or hemospermia caused by urethral rents that underwent PU or CS at a referral hospital between 1989 and 2013 were reviewed. Data regarding signalment, clinical features, urethroscopic findings, surgical treatment, and outcome were recorded. Long-term follow-up information was obtained by telephone interviews.
RESULTS Age of the study population ranged from 3 to 18 years. Nineteen geldings and 1 stallion were examined because of hematuria, of which 13 and 7 underwent PU and CS, respectively, at a mean of 56 days after onset of clinical signs. Thirteen stallions were examined because of hemospermia, of which 7 and 6 underwent PU and CS, respectively, at a mean of 193 days after onset of clinical signs. Hematuria resolved following 1 surgical procedure in all 17 horses for which long-term information was available. Of the 12 stallions for which long-term information was available, 7 had resolution of hemospermia after 1 PU or CS and 5 developed recurrent hemospermia that required additional PUs or CSs (n = 3) or primary closure of the urethral rent (2).
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that PU and CS were reliable treatments for resolution of hematuria in male horses with urethral rents; stallions with urethral rents may require multiple PUs or CSs or primary closure of the rent for resolution of hemospermia.
Objective
To compare effects of 3 oxytocin-based induction techniques on fetal and neonatal foals.
Design
Prospective randomized controlled trial.
Animals
16 pregnant mares.
Procedure
Parturition was induced in mares by use of 3 treatments: group 1, 75 U of oxytocin, IM; group 2, 15 U of oxytocin, IM, q 15 minutes, for a maximum of 75 U; group 3, 75 U of oxytocin in 1 L of 0.9% NaCI solution, IV (1 U/min), for a maximum of 75 U. Blood gas values and indices of vitality were measured in foals, and variables describing parturition were measured in mares.
Results
Group-3 mares had a shorter interval from administration of oxytocin to rupture of the chorioallantois (OTCA) than group-2 mares. More foals were abnormal when the interval from oxytocin administration to delivery of the foal (OTDE) was ≥ 60 minutes, Arterial blood gas values, measurements of vitality, and plasma cortisol concentrations did not differ among foals in various treatment groups. Increased interval for OTCA and OTDE resulted in higher neonatal Paco2 , and a longer interval for OTCA resulted in lower arterial pH. Time required for birth was shorter in mares with a dilated cervix. More abnormal foals than normal foals were delivered after premature placental separation or dystocia. Abnormal foals took longer to stand and suckle than normal foals. Interval from delivery to suckling was positively correlated with OTCA, OTDE, and Paco2 .
Clinical Implications
Method of oxytocin-induced parturition did not impact neonatal outcome. Interval from induction until parturition, degree of cervical dilatation, and intrapartum complications influenced induction success. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1997; 210:799–803
