FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Frontiers in veterinary science2023; 10; 1145742; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1145742

Case report: Long term follow-up of a large unilateral epididymal cyst in a stallion used for teaching: Is this condition associated with infertility?

Abstract: A 30-year-old Lusitano stallion presented with an enlarged right epididymis. The ultrasound scan revealed a cyst-like formation and the histopathological examination was compatible with epididymal cyst located at the body/tail transition, epididymal spermatocele and sperm granuloma and epididymitis. However, these conditions did not seem to affect the animal's reproductive performance, nor did the semen parameters analyzed over the 8 years after the diagnosis show significant changes. Nevertheless, since the ejaculate contains mostly sperm cells from the tail of the epididymis, where fertile spermatozoa are stored until ejaculated, a deep knowledge of the different conditions that can affect this organ is of the utmost importance.
Copyright © 2023 Silva, Cunha, Carvalho, Ribeiro, Rocha, Amorim and Guimarães.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-03-29 PubMed ID: 37065254PubMed Central: PMC10090384DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1145742Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Case Reports
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study presents an 8-year follow-up investigation into a large, unilateral epididymal cyst in a 30 year-old Lusitano stallion. Despite the findings, the conditions did not affect the stallion’s reproductive performance or semen parameters.

The Stallion and Initial Discovery

  • The study focuses on a 30-year-old Lusitano stallion that was observed to have an enlarged right epididymis, an organ which plays a key role in storing and transporting sperm.
  • An ultrasound scan revealed the presence of a cyst-like formation in the organ.
  • A histopathological examination, which involves a microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease, confirmed the cyst in the epididymis.

Diagnosis and Conditions

  • The diagnosis pointed to multiple conditions: an epididymal cyst located at the body/tail transition, epididymal spermatocele (a cyst that forms in the epididymis and is filled with sperm), sperm granuloma (a mass that develops as a result of sperm leakage, causing an immune response), and epididymitis (an inflammation of the epididymis).
  • Although these conditions typically have the potential to interfere with fertility, they did not appear to affect this stallion’s reproductive performance.
  • The stallion was followed for eight years after diagnosis and, during this period, no significant changes were noted in the semen parameters examined.

Importance of Knowledge

  • The ejaculate consists mostly of sperm cells from the tail-end of the epididymis, where fertile spermatozoa are stored until they are ejaculated. Therefore, understanding the different conditions that can affect this organ is crucial.
  • The study underscores this point, suggesting that even when these conditions are observed, they do not necessarily lead to infertility or changes in semen parameters over the long term.
  • In this specific case, the stallion was successfully used for teaching purposes, raising further questions about the implications of such conditions on fertility and the need for further research.

Cite This Article

APA
Silva GF, Cunha R, Carvalho F, Ribeiro M, Rocha A, Amorim I, Guimarães T. (2023). Case report: Long term follow-up of a large unilateral epididymal cyst in a stallion used for teaching: Is this condition associated with infertility? Front Vet Sci, 10, 1145742. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1145742

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Pages: 1145742

Researcher Affiliations

Silva, Gabriela Fernandes
  • School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Porto, Portugal.
Cunha, Raquel
  • School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Porto, Portugal.
  • Center for the Study of Animal Sciences (CECA), ICETA, University of Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal.
Carvalho, Fátima
  • School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Porto, Portugal.
Ribeiro, Mário
  • School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Porto, Portugal.
Rocha, António
  • School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Porto, Portugal.
  • Center for the Study of Animal Sciences (CECA), ICETA, University of Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal.
Amorim, Irina
  • School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Porto, Portugal.
  • Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal.
  • Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto (UP), Porto, Portugal.
Guimarães, Tiago
  • School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Porto, Portugal.
  • Center for the Study of Animal Sciences (CECA), ICETA, University of Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 30 references
  1. Little TV, Holyoak GR. Reproductive anatomy and physiology of the stallion. Vet. Clin. Equine Prac. (1992) 8:1–29.
    doi: 10.1016/S0749-0739(17)30464-9pubmed: 1576543google scholar: lookup
  2. Foster RA. Male genital system. Pathol. Domest. Anim. (2016) 3:465.
    doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-5319-1.00016-5google scholar: lookup
  3. Amann RP. Physiology and Endocrinology. New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell. (2011).
  4. Sitters S. Palpation and ultrasonography of the testis, epididymis, and spermatic cord. Eq Reprod Proc. (2021) 30:609–614.
    doi: 10.1002/9781119556015.ch165pubmed: 0google scholar: lookup
  5. Mukendi AM. Bilateral epididymal cyst with spontaneous resolution. Clin Case Rep. (2020) 8:2689–91.
    doi: 10.1002/ccr3.3199pmc: PMC7752435pubmed: 33363806google scholar: lookup
  6. Schumacher J, Lenz SD, Walker W. Cystic rete testis associated with cryptorchidism in a horse. Vet Pathol. (1994) 31:115–7.
    doi: 10.1177/030098589403100117pubmed: 7908154google scholar: lookup
  7. Varner DD, Schumacher J, Blanchard TL, Johnson L. Diseases and Management of Breeding Stallions of the Epididymis. Goleta, CA: American Veterinary Publications. (1991).
  8. Johnson AK, Love CC. Epididymal Abnormalities Equine Reproduction. 2nd Edn. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 1157–60 (2011).
  9. Hesser AC, Davidson AP. Spermatocele in a South African Boerboel dog. Top Companion Anim Med. (2015) 30:28–30.
    doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2015.03.001pubmed: 26041595google scholar: lookup
  10. Gelberg HB, McEntee K. Cystic rete testis in a cat and fox. Vet Pathol. (1983) 20:634–6.
    doi: 10.1177/030098588302000516pubmed: 6636471google scholar: lookup
  11. Williams H, Revell S, Scholes S, Courtenay A, Smith R. Clinical, ultrasono graphic and pathological findings in a bull with segmental aplasia of the mesonephric duct. Reprod Domest Anim. (2009) 45:e212–16.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2009.01543.xpubmed: 19968835google scholar: lookup
  12. Hibret A, Toé F, Mukasa-Mugerwa E, Kassa T, Markos T. Genital disorders, linear and testicular characteristics in menz rams. Trop Anim Health Prod. (2001) 33:219–27.
    doi: 10.1023/A:1010314821537pubmed: 11360800google scholar: lookup
  13. Kumaresan A, Pathak K, Chhetri B, Ahmed S, Das A, Bujarbaruah K. Incidence of testicular abnormalities in pigs reared under field conditions of Mizoram. Indian J Anim Reprod. (2008) 29:78–79.
  14. Kafi M, Oryan A, Morgan-Azghadi N. Pathology of testis and epididymis in native goats in southern Iran. Comp Clin Path. (2007) 16:201–5.
    doi: 10.1007/s00580-006-0662-ygoogle scholar: lookup
  15. Ferri JVV, Silva AGT, Fernandes AS, Cachoeira ET, Rosito TE. Cisto de Epidídimo Gigante Versus Hidrocele: Confusão Diagnóstica. Relatos Casos Cirúrgicos, Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões. (2018) 4:e1868.
    doi: 10.30928/25272039e-20181868google scholar: lookup
  16. Gray GA, Dascanio JJ, Kasimanickam R, Sponenberg DP. Bilateral epidiymal cysts in an alpaca male used for breeding. Can Vet J. (2007) 48:741–4.
    pmc: PMC1899850pubmed: 17824161
  17. Kaiper G. Zum klinischen Wert der skrotalen Sonographie [The clinical value of scrotal sonography]. Z Urol Nephrol. (1989) 82:419–24.
    pubmed: 2683485
  18. Pozor M. Diagnostic applications of ultrasonography to stallion's reproductive tract. Theriogenology. (2005) 64:505–9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.05.007pubmed: 15961150google scholar: lookup
  19. Alkafafy M, Rashed R, Emara S, Nada M, Helal A. Histological and immunohistochemical studies on the epididymal duct in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). Anat Cell Biol. (2011) 44:284.
    doi: 10.5115/acb.2011.44.4.284pmc: PMC3254882pubmed: 22254157google scholar: lookup
  20. De Grava Kempinas D, Klinefelter W. Interpreting histopathology in the epididymis. Spermatogenesis. (2015) 4:e979114.
    doi: 10.4161/21565562.2014.979114pmc: PMC4581052pubmed: 26413396google scholar: lookup
  21. Sengupta D, Ray K, Azad CS, Sheetal SK. Histological differences in the three epididymal Ovis aries regions of sheep in relation to spermatozoan maturation. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci. (2020) 9:2018–22.
    doi: 10.20546/ijcmas.2020.907.232google scholar: lookup
  22. Lee JC, Bhatt S, Dogra VS. Imaging of the epididymis. Ultrasound Q. (2008) 24:3–16.
    doi: 10.1097/RUQ.0b013e318168f116pubmed: 18362528google scholar: lookup
  23. Boscarelli A, Bellini T. Epididymal cyst in children. Eur J Pediatr. (2021) 180:2723–9.
    doi: 10.1007/s00431-021-04080-5pubmed: 33851241google scholar: lookup
  24. LaRusso K, Miller J, Saad K, Steinhardt GF. Pathogenic mechanisms for spermatocele and epididymal cyst formation. Clin Surg Urol. (2016) 1:1261.
  25. Varner DD, Johnson L. From a Sperm's Eye View: Revisiting Our Perception of This Intriguing Cell. In: AO McKinnon, EL Squires, WE Vaala, DD Varner, editors. Equine Reproduction. 2nd Edn. New Jersey, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell; (2011).
  26. Hemeida NA, Sack WO, McEntee K. Ductuli Efferentes in the Epididymis of Boar, Goat, Ram, Bull, and Stallion. American Journal of Veterinary Research (1978) pp. 1892–1900.
    pubmed: 749571
  27. McEntee K. Pathology of the epididymis of the bull and stallion. Proc Annu Meeting Soc Theriogenol. (1979) 1979:103–9.
  28. Ball BA. Diagnostic methods for evaluation of stallion subfertility: a review. J Equine Vet Sci. (2008) 28:650–65.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2008.10.003google scholar: lookup
  29. Ferrer MS, Miller LMJ. Equine sperm-bound antisperm antibodies are associated with poor semen quality. Theriogenology. (2018) 118:212–8.
    doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.05.034pubmed: 29935460google scholar: lookup
  30. Elbashir S, Magdi Y, Rashed A, Henkel R, Agarwal A. Epididymal contribution to male infertility: an overlooked problem. Andrologia. (2020) 53:e13721.
    doi: 10.1111/and.13721pubmed: 32816323google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.