Impotentia generandi in male dromedary camels: Clinical findings, semen characteristics, and testicular histopathology

• Published in: Theriogenology 2014-10, Vol.82 (6), p.890-896
• Main Authors: Ali, A., Derar, R., Al-Sobayil, F., Mehana, S., Al-Hawas, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Camelus; Histopathology; Infertility; Infertility, Male - diagnosis; Infertility, Male - pathology; Infertility, Male - veterinary; Male; Male camel; Semen; Semen - physiology; Testicular biopsy; Testis - pathology
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.07.001

The objective of this study was to describe the clinical findings, semen characteristics, and testicular histopathology in male dromedary camels affected with impotentia generandi (IG). According to the history, 82.6% (38/46) of the cases were classified as primary-IG (P-IG; never been able to impregnate a female), whereas 17.4% (8/46) were classified as secondary-IG (S-IG; acquired infertility). Only one scrotal testis was observed in four cases, and no scrotal testis was observed in one case. Overall, testicular length, width, and depth were 6.46 ± 0.2, 3.41 ± 0.1, and 2.8 ± 0.08 cm, respectively. Within the P-IG males, 42.2% of the testes were classified as small, 47.9% as normal, and 9.9% as large. Within the S-IG males, 0.0% of the testes were classified as small, 80% as normal, and 20% as large. Ejaculate volume, total sperm number in the ejaculate, and sperm motility, viability, and abnormal morphology were 4.4 ± 0.3 mL, 25.7 ± 1.0 × 106, 18.7 ± 3.1%, 25.2 ± 3.4%, and 46.6 ± 3.7%, respectively. Azoospermia was observed in 30.4% of the cases, asthenospermia was observed in the 25% of the cases, and necrospermia was observed in 10% of the cases. The proportion of abnormal sperm was between 20% and 50%, and between 60% and 94% in 56.2% and 34.4% of the cases, respectively. Hypospermatogenesis, arrested spermatogenesis, Sertoli cell–only syndrome, and testicular degeneration were the main histopathological findings. In conclusion, IG in male dromedary camels appears to be related mainly to testicular dysfunction, which alters semen quality and reduces fertility.