Semen: urosemen
Synonym(s): Urospermia, urine in the semen
Introduction
- Urine in the semen.
- Cause: not well understood.
- Signs: no generalized signs.
- Diagnosis: semen evaluation.
- Treatment: diuretic medication
- Prognosis: good.
Presenting signs
- Yellow coloration of ejaculate .
- Unpleasant odor of ejaculate (ammonia).
- Poor sperm motility.
- Poor fertility.
- When natural cover is being used poor fertility/high rates of post-breeding endometritis Uterus: endometritis - bacterial in the mares which have been covered may be the only clues.
Cost considerations
- Repeated attempts at semen collection and/or inability to use certain ejaculates can become expensive due to time and personnel involved.
- Mares inseminated/covered with urine-contaminated semen may develop a (chemical) endometritis Uterus: endometritis - bacterial , and thus incur additional costs.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Not well understood.
- The sphincter at the neck of the bladder which ought to close tightly during ejaculation fails to do so sufficiently, and so urine leaks down the urethra (the common pathway for semen and urine) and contaminates the ejaculate:
- May be related to neurological dysfunction, eg Cauda equina syndrome Polyneuritis equi or EHV 1 infection CNS: myeloencephalopathy - EHV .
- May reflect urinary incontinence Bladder: paralysis .
Predisposing factors
General- Neurological disease, eg Cauda equina syndrome Polyneuritis equi or EHV-1 infection CNS: myeloencephalopathy - EHV .
Timecourse
- Some stallions contaminate every ejaculate with urine.
- In other stallions the problem is intermittent.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Loomis P R (2006) Advanced methods for handling and preparation of stallion semen. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 22 (3), 663-676 PubMed.
- Griggers S, Paccamonti D L, Thompson R A & Eilts B E (2001) The effects of ph, osmolarity and urine contamination on equine spermatozoal motility. Theriogenology 56 (4), 613-622 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Turner R M O (2007) Urospermia and Hemospermia. In: Current Therapy in Equine Reproduction. Eds: Samper J, Pycock J F & McKinnon A O. pp 258-260.