Infertility in Cattle

A) Ovarian pathological affections

1- Ovaritis (oophoritis):

- Inflammation or inflection of the ovary.

- The possible causes are:

1- Mechanical e.g., rough manipulation during rectal examination, massage, inoculation of CL, and rupture of cysts.

2- Infection occurs either by:  

    - Extension from perimetritis, parametritis and peritonitis.

    - Ascending through the fallopian tube and uterus in case of pyometra and metritis.

  -McEntee (1990) described cases of tuberculous oophoritis, brucella-induced oophoritis, and ovarian abscessation in animals that that have had generalized pyemia. 

- The affection of the right ovary is more common than the left one because the right is more functioning.

- Slight adhesion with the ovarian bursa hinders the passage of the ovum to the fallopian tubes resulting in repeat breeding.

- When extensive adhesion is present, pressure atrophy on the ovary may result in anestrus.

- Transrectal ultrasound shows a hyperechoic mass on the affected ovary. 

- Prognosis is unfavorable especially when there is extensive ovario-bursal adhesion.

- Prevention is more important than treatment.

- Bilateral cases with dense adhesion should be fattened and slaughtered because it is sterile.

2- Para-ovarian cysts:

- Cystic dilatation of the remnants of the Wolffian ducts neighboring to the ovary (meso-salpinx).

- The cyst may reach a large size, about 10 inches, round or oval in shape, and interfere with the fertility of the animal but this is rare.

- Normally, they are 2-5 cm in diameter and do not interfere the fertility.

Paraovarian cyst in buffalo heifer nearby the ovary that had corpus luteum. Paraovarian cyst (POC) appeared as a large translucent anechoic cavity.

 

3- Granulosa cell tumor:

- It is the most common affection in cattle.

- They can reach a large size to a child head with irregular surface and fleshy texture.

- When there is a tumor in one ovary, atrophy of the other ovary may occur due to high estrogens produced by the granulosa cell tumor in the affected ovary.

- The affected animal shows signs of nymphomania due to continuous secretion of estrogen with relaxation of pelvic ligaments.

- Heifers are anestrous if the level of estrogen is so high to block the symptoms of nymphomania.

- The tumor should be differentiated from follicular cysts by rectal examination. The cyst is fluctuating, never exceeding 8cm in diameter and having a smooth convex regular surface.

- Diagnosis of granulosa cell tumor depends on a history of nymphomania, anestrus, and lactation in heifers.

- The weight and size of a large ovarian tumor tends to drag the ovary downward and forward into the abdominal cavity. The other ovary may be atrophied and small.

- Uterus first is turgid and erected then becomes fleshy and flaccid.

- Treatment by ovariectomy of the affected ovary. The other ovary, consequently, becomes functioning.

Granulosa Cell Tumor in Goat

4- Ovarian atrophy:

- Pressure atrophy due to tumor, endocrine disturbances or pressure by the surroundings.

-  Senile atrophy due to old age.

- Animals show signs of anestrum for a long period.

-  Animal is sterile due to loss of ovarian activities