Pig Farming

Cryptorchidism in Pig

July 24, 2022

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Cryptorchidism in Pig

Bhumapati Devi¹*, K. Merina Devi² and T. Gyaneshori Devi³

^1* Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Complex,COVSc & AH, CAU(I) Jalukie, Nagaland, India, 797110.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Livestock Farm Complex, COVSc & AH, CAU (I) Jalukie, Nagaland, India, 797110.

³Assistant Professor, Department of Livestock Production Management, COVSc &AH,CAU (I) Jalukie, Nagaland, India, 797110.

Abtract

Cryptorchidism is the failure of one or both testes to descend from the foetal position in the sublumber region through the inguinal canal into the scrotal sac. It may be unilateral or bilateral, but unilateral cryptorchidism occurs more commonly than bilateral cryptorchidism, although unilateral cryptorchidism is more frequent in pig industry and other companion animals and small ruminants that mainly affects the right testes. In cryptorchidism, the undescended testicle may be located in the abdominal, inguinal or subcutaneous area (at the outlet of the inguinal ring or neck of the scrotum). The disease is usually heritable and usually detected at birth or shortly after and it was thought to be caused by inbreeding. This disease condition is more often seen in horses, cats, dogs, and pigs compared to other species but it is rare in ruminants like sheep and goat. Thus, unilateral cryptorchidism causes infertility While bilateral cryptorchidism causes sterility.

Keywords: cryptorchidism, pig, treatment

Introduction

The term cryptorchidism is a combination of three Greek words, “Kriptos” (hidden, occult), “orchitis” (testicle) and “idiom” (small, diminutive) (Ferreira, 1986). Cryptorchidism is a male anomaly in which there is failure of one or both the testes to descend into scrotum at the time normal for the species of interest, before or shortly after birth (Amann and Veeramachaneni, 2007). Aberrations of the male reproductive system can negatively impact on reproductive productivity and animal production. The undescendend testis may be retained in abdomen, inguinal and subcutaneous region (Amann and Veeramachaneni, 2006). Cryptorchidism is more common in companion animals, pig, or human (2-12%) than cattle or sheep (< 1%). In respect to undescended testes, abdominal testes predominance in cat, dogs, and horses. Inguinal testes also predominate in horses, and occasionally are found in cats and dogs. While Subcutaneous testes are found in cattle, cats and dogs but are most common in humans (Amann and Veeramachaneni, 2007). In boars, unilateral abdominal cryptorchidism was more associated (Pinart et al., 1998). Cryptorchidism may be unilateral or bilateral (Colville and Joanna, 2002) and unilateral is more common (Figure 1) (the left testes is retained more often than the right one) (Barth, 2006; Ayodeji and Suwaiba, 2013). Among the unilateral cryptorchid animals, the right testicle is retained in the abdomen in approximately 80% to 90% of affected animals (Smith et al., 2007). However, according to some authors, right and left testicular retaining are almost equal in existence (Acland, 2001). Unilateral cryptorchidism, when one testis fails to descend into scrotum is a common reproductive disorder in swine (Robert 1998; Baishya et al.,2003; Igbokwe et al., 2009). Unilateral cryptorchid boars are fertile because of usual spermatozoa production by the descended testes. However, due to congenital character, unilateral cryptorchid boars are never used for breeding purpose. The occurrence of cryptorchidism may reach 1 to 2% in some herds (Authur et al., 1982), which finally causes economic loss to pig industry.

Prevalence

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The occurrence of cryptorchidism in animals was reported as 0.1-12% (Amann and Veeramachaneni, 2007). Unilateral cryptorchidism is a common condition among West African Dwarf (WAD) goats of south-eastern Nigeria with the right testes being consistently retained and abdominal in position. A prevalence of 1.74% occur in bulls in semi – arid zone of North-western, Nigeria reported by Ayodeji and Suwaiba (2013), the same prevalence was also reported by Kumi-Diaka et al., 1989 but contratry according to Amann and Veeramachaneni, 2007 recently they reported the prevalence rates of less than 0.5% in bulls and 0.1- 0.7% in sheep. According to Arthur et al., 1982, the incidence of cryptorchidism may reach to 1 to 2 % in pig industry.

Causes of cryptorchidism

The exact mechanism is unknown for cryptorchidism in animals (Mamoulakis et al., 2012). Normally, in cryptorchidism the causes are a complex interaction of genetic, anatomic and endocrine system (Mattos et al., 2000; Thonneau et al., 2003). In rams, it is most likely to be as a result of an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, but it may also be due to a dominants gene with the incomplete penetrance whereas, in bull it is believed to be hereditary (Foster and Ladds, 2006). For endocrine cause, it is supposed to be as a result of abnormal production of testosterone or absence of Mullerian inhibiting hormone since normal testicular descent requires both for it to occur (Ozygit, 2007). In some species of animals, other factors have been concerned. These factors include prolonged breech presentation (Depue, 1984), navel infection during testicular descent (Romagnoli,1991) or maternal vitamin A deficiency during fetal development (Wilson et al., 1953), exposure of the fetus to an increased maternal oestrogen concentration (Depue et al., 1983) or antiandrogenic chemicals (Hutson et al., 1994).

Gross and microscopic appearance of cryptorchid testis

The gross and microscopic appearance is related to its location and the age of the affected animal (Ozygit, 2007). Cryptorchid testis is ordinary before puberty; after sexual maturity, the testes become gradually smaller and fibrotic (Acland, 1998). Cryptorchid testes are smaller and soft to touch with smoother or more pitted surfaces compared to the scrotal testicles (Figure 2) (Igbokwe et al., 2009). Microscopically, tubular hypoplasia is seen in the parenchyma of cryptorchid testis, no tunica vaginalis and its capsule (tunica albuginea) may be thicker than the scrotal testicles (Ozygit, 2007). The seminiferous tubules of the cryptorchid testes are hypoplastic with poorly distinguished germinal epithelium, with or without central hollow and in some testes; the tubules are separated by expanded areas of connective tissues (Igbokwe et al., 2009). According to Cox (1986), there was only one single layer of spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte and Sertoli cells, with the Sertoli cells being characterized by Golgi’s complex and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and decreased number of lysosomes. In boars, unilateral abdominal cryptorchidism was associated with a decreased sperm production and significantly higher frequency of primary abnormalities of spermiogenesis in the testis (Pinart et al., 1998), the descended testis of unilateral cryptorchid boar contains reduced epidydymal sperm concentration, presence of higher percentage of proximal cytoplasmic droplets and acrosomal defects than the epididymal sperm of normal boar of same age group (Baishya et al., 2003)

Objectionable flavour

Cryptorchid boars characteristically are killed neonatally, at minimal economic loss. They are considered unsuitable for breeding. In a producer operation, rearing cryptorchid piglets to market weight might result in a carcass with greatly reduced value (due to boar odor resulting from 5-androst-16-ene-3-one produced by remaining testis tissue) (Amann and Veeramachaneni, 2007). According to Nordby, 1993 states that no odour of the cryptorchid could be distinguished if the animal were marketed at approximately six months of age. If removable of the retained testis is desired, surgical removal by the veterinarian is indicated. Removable of the retained testis of the cryptorchid is more dangerous than ordinary castration because it comprises entry into the abdominal cavity, increasing the risk of infection.

Diagnosis

The first step is to inspect the scrotum after locating a castration history. The scrotum and inguinal region should be observed for the presence of an incisional mark which indicate that castration is attempted. This is then followed by palpation. In unilateral cryptorchid animals, digital palpation of the descended testis and associated spermatic cord can indicate whether the left or right testes is retained (Rodgerson and Hanson, 1997). The use of ultrasonography examination can also be of help in attainment a diagnosis (Jann and Rains, 1990)

Treatment

In the present study, the case was right unilateral cryptorchid, where the testis was removed by giving an incision on the right inguinal region and opened the peritoneum and then removed the retained testis. By following the standard procedure, the incision site was closed and apply Himax ointment topically. Following removal of the retained right testicle, the left testicle was removed manually (Figure 3) and Himax ointment was applied topically.

Control

The best choice of control is to accomplish complete castration of the cryptorchid animal (Mattos et al., 2000) and retain as food animal if suitable and not for breeding purposes. So, if due to one reason or the other, the surgery could not be performed then, it is suggested to cull at least the cryptorchid male.

Conclusion

As cryptorchidism is hereditary in nature, so we should keep in our mind that those animals suffering from this disorder should not be used in breeding purposes. Because of repeated breeding there is ultimate huge economic loss to pig industry. To prevent from objectionable flavour the boars should be marketed at the age of six month of age as to prevent huge economic lost in pig industry.

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Figure1: unilateral cryptorchid is more common

Figure2: Cryptorchid testes are smaller and soft to touch with smoother or more pitted surfaces compared to the scrotal testicles

Figure3: By following the standard procedure, the incision site was closed and apply Himax ointment topically. Following removal of the retained right testicle, the left testicle was removed manually.