Comparison of five different methods to assess the concentration of boar semen

Both for research and practical purposes, accurate and repeatable methods are required to assess the concentration of boar semen samples. Since the method which is used may influence the results considerably, the aim of the present study was to compare 5 frequently used techniques to determine boar semen concentration. Fifty ejaculates were collected from 37 different boars at an artificial insemination centre. Subsequently, each ejaculate was analyzed for sperm concentration by means of 2 different types of colorimeters (Colorimeter 1: Model 252, Sherwood Scientific Ltd, Cambridge, UK; Colorimeter 2: Ciba-Corning, Schippers, Bladel, The Netherlands), the Burker counting chamber (golden standard), and the Hamilton Thorne Analyzer (Ceros 42.1) using 2 types of Leja chambers (the 'former' and the 'recently developed'). Each ejaculate was assessed 5 times with each of the 5 methods, and the repeatability, expressed by coefficient of variation (CV), was determined for each method. The different methods were compared using Pearson's correlations and limits of agreement. The colorimeters yielded the lowest CV's (both 3.7%), while the former Leja chamber resulted in the highest CV (12.4%). Moreover, significant (P0.71) were found between the results obtained by the different methods. The limits of agreement plots showed that none of the methods consistently over- or underestimated the sperm concentrations when compared to the Burker chamber, although there was a tendency toward higher over- or underestimation in highly concentrated sperm samples. Based on our results, there were no major differences in the assessment of sperm concentration between the evaluated methods. The choice of method used in a laboratory could therefore be based on factors such as cost, number of samples to be assessed and practical use, without thereby negatively affecting the validity of the results thus obtained

Vaginale cytologie bij de teef: een miskende techniek?

Vaginale cytologie bij de teef is gemakkelijk uit te voeren in de praktijk, de staalname is vrij eenvoudig en het is een relatief goedkope techniek met vele toepassingsmogelijkheden. Doordat de resultaten bovendien snel beschikbaar zijn, kan het praktijkdierenartsen helpen bij het beoordelen en het opvolgen van het cyclusstadium van een teef. Vaginale cytologie kan ook voor andere doeleinden gebruikt worden, zoals het voorspellen van het exacte partustijdstip, het bevestigen van een (ongewenste) dekking en het vaststellen van vaginitis, verlengde loopsheid, ovarieel restsyndroom, problemen post partum of vaginale neoplasie. Het optimale moment van dekking of inseminatie kan niet met vaginale cytologie bepaald worden en dient te worden uitgevoerd door middel van vaginoscopie en/of progesteronbepaling

Neonatale iso-erytrolyse bij de kat

Neonatal isoerythrolysis in kittens can only occur when the queen has blood type B and the tomcat blood type A or AB. During the first 24 hours after birth, kittens ingest colostral antibodies, which reach the systemic circulation through the bowel. Kittens with blood type A absorb antibodies, which destroy their erythrocytes. Kittens that develop symptoms, such as anemia, hemoglobininuria or icterus, should be given a blood transfusion. However, the survival rate is very low, and prevention is of utmost importance. This can be done by determining the blood type of queens and tomcats intended for breeding with breeds at risk. Ideally, a queen with blood type B and a tomcat with blood type A or AB should not be mated. However, if this combination occurs, the kittens should be removed from the mother during the first 24 hours after birth. Subsequently, they have to be fed with artificial milk and be given oral or subcutaneous plasma from a well-immunized cat with blood type A

International breeder inquiry into the reproduction of the English bulldog

Dystocia may occur in all dog breeds, but the English bulldog is predisposed because of its conformation and specific problems such as anasarca pups. In this study, the frequency of abnormal pups and breeding problems in English bulldogs was investigated by a questionnaire containing information on 39 bitches in total. In 74.4% of these bitches, artificial insemination was performed. At the end of gestation, 25.8% of the bitches suffered from respiratory problems and partial anorexia. The average duration of gestation was 58.7 days counted from the first day of mating. Caesarean section was performed in 94.8% of the cases, with natural delivery in only 5.2% of the bitches. In this study, the average litter size was six pups. Thirteen percent of the pups were stillborn, 8.2% of the pups alive were deformed, with palatoschisis (38.8%) and anasarca (27.7%) being the most commonly observed abnormalities. Ten percent of the pups died before the age of weaning

Administration of progestagens to the bitch and the cat: a survey among Flemish small animal veterinary practices

Progestagens can be used to control the estrus of bitches and cats for contraceptive purposes. This implies the occurrence of both reproductive and non-reproductive side effects. However, other contraceptive methods such as surgical sterilization are alternatives of equal value. To investigate this matter, a survey about the use of progestagens in small animal practices was sent to 120 Flemish veterinarians, 80 of whom responded. The results show that surgical sterilization is recommended by 98% of the veterinarians when owners require heat control of their animal. Nevertheless, the use of progestagens remains popular, with 71% of the practices using them with dogs and 58% using them with cats. The injectable formulations of medroxyprogesterone acetate and proligestone are mostly used in bitches, while the oral administration of megestrolacetate is most commonly used in cats. Increased appetite and body weight, neoplasia of the mammary gland and cystic endometrial hyperplasia/pyometra complex were the side effects most commonly noticed by veterinarians in both species

New medication to control small animal reproduction

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