Clinical and laboratory findings associated with actual or suspected azoospermia in dogs: 18 cases (1979-1990)

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 201; no. 3; p. 478
• Main Authors: Olson, P.N, Schultheiss, P, Seim, H.B. III
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.1992
• Subjects: AETIOLOGY; Alkaline Phosphatase - analysis; Animals; Breeding; CASE STUDIES; CHIEN; Dog Diseases - etiology; Dog Diseases - pathology; DOGS; ESPERMATOZOO; ESTERILIDAD MASCULINA; ESTUDIOS DE CASOS PRACTICOS; ETIOLOGIA; ETIOLOGIE; ETIOLOGY; ETUDE DE CAS; Hormones - blood; Immunoglobulins - analysis; Inbreeding; INFERTILITE MALE; Male; MALE INFERTILITY; Oligospermia - etiology; Oligospermia - pathology; Oligospermia - veterinary; PERRO; Retrospective Studies; Semen - cytology; Semen - enzymology; SINTOMAS; SPERMATOZOA; SPERMATOZOIDE; SYMPTOME; SYMPTOMS; Testis - pathology
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1992.201.03.478

Eighteen dogs were evaluated for azoospermia, 8 of which had sired pups. On the basis of history, physical examination, and various laboratory evaluations, the cause and site of azoospermia varied. Two dogs that had never sired pups had likely been azoospermic from puberty (congenital azoospermia). Two dogs were azoospermic as a result of tumors (Sertoli cell tumor and malignant astrocytoma of the pituitary gland). Deposits of IgG were observed in testicular biopsy samples, which suggested an auto-immune cause for azoospermia in 5 dogs. One of the 5 dogs with IgG deposits in testicular tissues also had evidence of immune-mediated thyroiditis. Culturing of microbes in the semen was not helpful in determining potential causes of azoospermia, and results did not correlate with organisms isolated from testicular biopsy samples or with the finding of inflammation in biopsy samples. Because 6 dogs had relatives with histories of reproductive dysfunction, inbreeding also must be considered when evaluating dogs for azoospermia.