ESTUDIO COMPARATIVO DE LOS TESTÍCULOS, EPIDÍDIMOS, GLÁNDULAS SEXUALES ACCESORIA S Y ESPERMATOZOIDES EN TRES ESPECIES DE LA GOMORFOS (ROMEROLAGUS DIAZI, LEPUS CA LIFORNICUS Y ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS).

A comparative study of the male reproductive organs and spermatozoa from three lagomorphs species, the volcano rabbit or Zacatuche (Romerolagus diazi), the black-tailed hare (Lepus californicus) and the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), was conducted. The animals were euthanased and their reproductive organs excised. Testes, epididymes and accessory sexual glands were isolated, removed of any of connective and other tissues and weighed. Caudal spermatozoa were obtained from the epididymal tail, counted, fixed and measured. The testicular mass was not related to body mass, but when considered as a percentage of body mass, the values for L. californicus and R. diazi were twice as large as that determined for O. cuniculus. The epididymal mass, when expressed as a percentage of the body mass, was highest in R. diazi and smallestin O. cuniculus. Spermatozoa counts from the epididymal tail were larger in L. californicus than in R. diazi or O. cuniculus. Lengths and widths of the spermatozoa head from R. diazi were larger than from O. cuniculus and L. californicus. Total length and tail length of caudal spermatozoa from O. cuniculus and R. diazi were found to be similar but larger than those recorded from L. californicus. This is the first such quantitative and comparative study of wild lagomorphs species from North A merica.Se hizo un estudio comparativo del aparato reproductor masculino entre tres especies de lagomorfos: el conejo zacatuche (Romerolagus diazi), la liebre cola negra (Lepus californicus)y el conejo doméstico (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Se extrajo el aparato reproductor de los especímenes sacrificados y los testículos, epidídimos y glándulas sexuales accesorias fueron aislados, liberados del tejido conectivo y pesados. Los espermatozoides de la cola del epidídimo fueron obtenidos por retroperfusión, contados, fijados y medidos, utilizando técnicas fotográficas. La masa testicular no estuvo relacionada con la masa corporal y, considerada como porcentaje en relación a la masa corporal, fue más de dos veces mayor en L. californicus y R. diazi que en O. cuniculus. La masa epididimaria, expresada como porcentaje de la masa corporal, fue más grande en R. diazi que en L. californicus y en O. cuniculus. Hubo más espermatozoides, en la cola del epidídimo, de L. californicus que en R. diazi o en O. cuniculus. El largo y ancho de la cabeza espermática de R. diazi, superaron a los de O. cuniculus y L. californicus. La longitud total y el largo de la cola espermática, fueron similares en O. cuniculus y R. diazi, mientras que los espermatozoides de L. californicus fueron menores. Los datos que se presentan en este estudio, son los primeros cuantitativos de testículos, epidídimos, glándulas sexuales accesorias y espermatozoides, de especies de lagomorfos silvestres de Norteamérica

Reproductive and seminal characteristics of Pelibuey rams infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in the subclinical stage

Objective: To evaluate the reproductive and seminal characteristics of Pelibuey rams infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in the subclinical phase. Design/methodology/approach: In order to determine whether paratuberculosis (PTB) affects the reproductive variables and seminal quality in Pelibuey rams naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in the subclinical phase, weekly evaluations were conducted, over a period of two months, of the variables live weight, scrotal circumference, ejaculation latency and seminal characteristics: volume, pH, masal motility and progressive individual motility, concentration, live spermatozoids and dead spermatozoids, in five rams infected by MAP and a further five uninfected rams, of average weight and age 53.58 kg (± 3.26) and 2.91 years (± 0.59), respectively. Results: PTB was not found to affect the reproductive and seminal variables evaluated. Limitations of the study/implications: It would have been convenient to carry out the evaluation of the seminal characteristics for a longer time, however, the sampling was stopped in order to ensure the animal welfare of the rams as far as possible, since they began to show signs of PTB. Findings/Conclusions: The Pelibuey rams diagnosed with PTB in subclinical phase did not present any effect on the reproductive and seminal characteristics. Meanwhile, reproductive management can be carried out with PTB-infected Pelibuey lambs in a subclinical phase.Objective: To evaluate the reproductive and seminal characteristics of Pelibuey rams infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in the subclinical phase. Design/methodology/approach: In order to determine whether paratuberculosis (PTB) affects the reproductive variables and seminal quality in Pelibuey rams naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in the subclinical phase, weekly evaluations were conducted, over a period of two months, of the variables live weight, scrotal circumference, ejaculation latency and seminal characteristics: volume, pH, masal motility and progressive individual motility, concentration, live spermatozoids and dead spermatozoids, in five rams infected by MAP and a further five uninfected rams, of average weight and age 53.58 kg (± 3.26) and 2.91 years (± 0.59), respectively. Results: PTB was not found to affect the reproductive and seminal variables evaluated. Limitations of the study/implications: It would have been convenient to carry out the evaluation of the seminal characteristics for a longer time, however, the sampling was stopped in order to ensure the animal welfare of the rams as far as possible, since they began to show signs of PTB. Findings/Conclusions: The Pelibuey rams diagnosed with PTB in subclinical phase did not present any effect on the reproductive and seminal characteristics. Meanwhile, reproductive management can be carried out with PTB-infected Pelibuey lambs in a subclinical phase