The inability of spectral Doppler ultrasonography to identify stallions with testicular dysfunction.
Abstract: This retrospective study aimed to validate the usefulness of spectral Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosing testicular dysfunction in stallions. The first part of the study included a pony stallion with age-related testicular degeneration (18 - 21 yrs. old). Testicular dimensions, spectral Doppler parameters of testicular blood flow, and semen parameters were obtained numerous times from this pony over four consecutive years. While testicular volume decreased dramatically, and the stallion became azoospermic, there were no changes in any of the spectral Doppler parameters of testicular blood flow, except the TABF rate (Total Arterial Blood Flow rate). TABF rate gradually increased, most likely due to a significant decrease in testicular volume. In the second part of the study, medical records of four horse stallions (5 - 8 yrs. old) with testicular dysfunction (TDF) were reviewed and analyzed. Parameters evaluated included testicular dimensions, spectral Doppler parameters of testicular blood flow, and semen parameters. Five fertile stallions (FR) served as the reference for TDF stallions. There were no significant differences between FR and TDF stallions in any of the spectral Doppler parameters of testicular blood flow, except TABF, which was significantly higher in FR stallions than in TDF stallions (P<0,005). This was likely caused by the larger testicular artery diameter in FR stallions. However, when individual stallions were considered, the values of the TABF overlapped between FR and TDF stallions. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that spectral Doppler ultrasonography is not always a reliable method for diagnosing testicular dysfunction in stallions.
Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2025-02-04 PubMed ID: 39914506DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105367Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study was conducted to assess the accuracy of spectral Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosing testicular dysfunction in stallions. The findings suggest that it is not always a reliable method.
Research Methodology
- The study was retrospective in nature, analyzing past data rather than conducting a new experiment.
- The initial part of the research took a single pony stallion as a case study, focusing particularly on the effects of age-related testicular degeneration. This pony was observed for four years, during which several testicular dimensions and parameters were monitored.
- The second part of the study analyzed the medical records of four horse stallions diagnosed with testicular dysfunction (TDF). Data collected included testicular dimensions, spectral Doppler testicular blood flow parameters, and semen parameters.
- To provide a benchmark, five fertile stallions (FR) were used as the reference group for comparison with TDF stallions.
Findings
- The study found a significant decrease in testicular volume with the pony stallion. As the testicular volume decreased, the stallion became azoospermic (lacked sperm in the semen). Despite these changes, the spectral Doppler parameters of testicular blood flow showed no alterations apart from the Total Arterial Blood Flow (TABF) rate, which increased possibly due to the decrease in testicular volume.
- In the comparison group, there were no significant differences between FR and TDF stallions in any of the spectral Doppler parameters of testicular blood flow, except for the TABF. The TABF was considerably higher in FR stallions, perhaps due to the larger diameter of the testicular artery in these horses. However, this was not a clear distinguishing factor as the TABF rates overlapped for individual stallions in both groups.
Conclusion
- The research led to the conclusion that spectral Doppler ultrasonography does not consistently provide accurate diagnosis of testicular dysfunction in stallions.
Cite This Article
APA
Pozor MA, Macpherson ML, Kelleman AA, Smith H, McNaughten JW.
(2025).
The inability of spectral Doppler ultrasonography to identify stallions with testicular dysfunction.
J Equine Vet Sci, 105367.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105367 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16(th) Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; Department of Animal Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: malgorzata.pozor@urk.edu.pl.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16(th) Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. Electronic address: macphersonm@ufl.edu.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16(th) Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. Electronic address: akelleman@ufl.edu.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16(th) Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. Electronic address: ridelikeaugurl@gmail.com.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16(th) Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. Electronic address: jwmacnaughten@gmail.com.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest None of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.
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