Investigation of an outbreak of infectious pustular balanoposthitis in cattle breeding bulls at a frozen semen bank.

Infectious pustular balanoposthitis (IPB) is one of the reproductive disorders caused by bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV1) that can be transmitted through artificial insemination. A herd of 63 breeding bulls at a frozen semen bank in Odisha state in India experienced a suspected outbreak of IPB, with 11 bulls showing clinical signs of the infection. Clinical signs were noticed in two bulls initially and a few days after in the other nine animals. Serum samples from 53 bulls were examined for anti-BoHV1 antibodies using a virus neutralisation test (VNT) and a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA); the remaining ten bulls were not included in the study because it was difficult to restrain them at that time. Paired serum samples were collected 21 days apart from ten clinically affected bulls (the eleventh clinically affected bull was not included in the study for the reason stated above). In the neutralisation test, the paired serum samples showed a two- to fourfold increase in anti-BoHV1 antibody titre; in the cELISA, the paired samples were also found positive for anti-BoHV1 antibodies. Serum samples from 43 in-contact bulls were collected about day 22 after the first observation of clinical infection in the herd. Among these serum samples, a total of 30 were found positive for anti-BoHV1 antibodies in the VNT and a total of 30 were found positive in cELISA. Ten samples were positive in one test but not the other and 25 tested positive in both tests. In all, 35 serum samples from in-contact bulls tested positive in either one or both of the two types of test. An overall agreement of 76.74% was found in detection of anti-BoHV1 antibodies in the two tests. Sensitivity was higher than specificity in detection of anti-BoHV1 antibodies in the serum samples. The glycoprotein C region of the genomic DNA of BoHV1 was amplified from semen samples by polymerase chain reaction. The findings from the outbreak indicate that continuous monitoring of breeding bulls at frozen semen banks is warranted to avoid the risks associated with artificial insemination.

Estrogen-induced developmental disorders of the rat penis involve both estrogen receptor (ESR)- and androgen receptor (AR)-mediated pathways.

This study tested the hypothesis that the estrogen receptor (ESR) pathway, androgen receptor (AR) pathway, or both mediate estrogen-induced developmental penile disorders. Rat pups received diethylstilbestrol (DES), with or without the ESR antagonist ICI 182,780 (ICI) or the AR agonist dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or testosterone (T), from Postnatal Days 1 to 6. Testicular T concentration, penile morphology and morphometry, and/or fertility was determined at age 7, 28, or 150 days. DES treatment alone caused 90% reduction in the neonatal intratesticular T surge; this reduction was prevented by ICI coadministration, but not by DHT or T coadministration. Unlike the T surge, coadministration of ICI and coadministration of DHT or T mitigated penile deformities and loss of fertility. Generally, ICI, DHT, or T treatment alone did not alter penile morphology; however, fertility was 20% that of controls in ICI-treated rats vs. 70%-90% in DHT- or T-treated rats. The lower fertility in the rats treated with ICI alone could be due to altered sexual behavior, as these males did not deposit vaginal plugs. In conclusion, observations that both an ESR antagonist and AR agonists prevent penile deformities and infertility suggest that both pathways are involved in estrogen-induced penile disorders. Observations that coadministration of ICI, but not DHT or T, prevents the DES-induced reduction in the neonatal T surge suggest that, although ICI exerts its mitigating effect both at the level of Leydig cells and penile stromal cells, DHT and T do so only at the level of stromal cells.

Penile calciphylaxis.

Calciphylaxis is an uncommon condition usually seen in patients with end-stage renal disease. The typical features include violaceous skin lesions overlying painful, indurated, subcutaneous nodules. Necrosis and nonhealing ulcers, with secondary gangrene, sepsis, and death frequently follow. The outpatient hemodialysis population has a reported calciphylaxis prevalence of 1% to 4.1%; however, published studies contain only a few case reports of penile calciphylaxis. The urologic presentation consists primarily of penile gangrene. A description of our patient, the underlying pathologic features, a review of the relevant published studies, and the possible predisposing conditions are included.

Does the positive intracavernous papaverine test always indicate a normal penile vascular system?

OBJECTIVE: A positive intracavernous papaverine test has been presumed to determine normal erectile hemodynamics. Recently, positive erectile responses to intracorporeal injection tests were reported in patients with penile arterial insufficiency. METHODS: This hypothesis was assessed by obtaining hemodynamic data using color Doppler ultrasonography in 417 patients with erectile dysfunction aged between 20 and 73 years (mean 43.06 +/- 13.66). A normal penile vascular system was found in 95 patients (22.79%), veno-occlusive dysfunction in 76 (18.22%), arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) in 113 (27.10%) and mixed-type ED in 133 (31.89%). RESULTS: A positive erection response was achieved in 176 patients with combined intracavernosal injection of 60 mg papaverine and self-manual genital stimulation (CIS) test, while a negative response was observed in the remaining 241 (57.79%). Color Doppler ultrasonography combined with pharmacological erection has proved a normal penile vascular system in 94 (53.41%) and penile arterial insufficiency in 82 (46.59%) patients of those who gave a positive response to the CIS test. Also, a positive CIS test response was observed in all patients with unilateral arterial insufficiency (n = 31) and in 51 patients (62.19%) out of 82 with bilateral arterial insufficiency. CONCLUSION: A positive intracavernous papaverine test indicates veno-occlusive dysfunction competence but does not necessarily signify a normal penile arterial system. The CIS test should be combined with color Doppler ultrasonography in order to determine the vascular component of ED, since the differentiation is not possible between slight penile arterial insufficiency and psychogenic or neurogenic impotence with the CIS test.

The effect of xylazine epidural anaesthesia on blood gas and acid-base parameters in rams.

The blood gas and acid-base effects of epidural xylazine were studied in rams. Xylazine at a dose of 0.4 mg kg-1 led to a metabolic alkalosis with a significant increase of pH, plasma bicarbonate and base excess and respiratory depression. Epidural administration of xylazine provided prolonged and very effective analgesia during abdominal and hindlimb surgery in rams.

[Protein S deficiency in necrotizing cellulitis of the penis]. / Déficit en protéine S au cours d'une cellulite nécrosante de la verge.

INTRODUCTION: The pathogenesis of necrotizing cellulitis remains uncertain. Factors that enhance clot formation may contribute to tissue necrosis. CASE REPORT: A case of necrotizing cellulitis of the penis in a patient with a transient protein S deficiency, is reported. CONCLUSION: The responsibility of this transient hypercoagulable state in the occurrence of tissue necrosis in this patient is discussed.

Intracavernosal kinetics of eicosanoids and endothelin during erection. Data from human and animal studies on intrapenile and systemic prostaglandins.

The release of mediator substances of the arachidonic acid cascade is closely related to the functional state of the endothelium. A significant lower prostacyclin/thromboxane A2 ratio in penile plasma of organogenic impotent patients in comparison to patients with psychogenic erectile dysfunction has been described in the literature. We observed the time-related liberation of prostacyclin, thromboxane A2 and the vasoactive peptide endothelin for 16 minutes of a drug-induced erection. We compared kinetics of patients with penile deviation and transsexualism, to patients suffering from severe organogenic impotence. We assessed the usefulness of the prostacyclin-to-thromboxane A2 ratio as a possible indicator of corporal degeneration. An animal model has been created to observe differences between rabbits under 100 days of standard diet alimentation, rabbits under cholesterol enriched diet and rabbits with hereditary hyperlipidemia type II A. Hyperlipidemia is suspected to be one possible factor causing organogenic impotence. Enzyme-immuno-assays were used for the determination of all substances. The systemic prostacyclin-to-thromboxane A2 ratio differed significantly between control rabbits and rabbits with hyperlipidemia. Prostacyclin, thromboxane A2 and endothelin in corpus cavernosum plasma showed a typical profile during spontaneous and drug-induced erection. A significant difference between groups of patients suffering from organogenic or psychogenic impotence could not be found. The value of the determination of the studied substances in differential diagnosis seems to be dubious.

[Age-related changes in plasma androstanediol glucuronide in men]. / Variations en fonction de l'âge du glucuronide d'androstanediol plasmatique chez l'homme.

Plasma 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta diol (Adiol) glucuronide levels were determined using a reliable radioimmunoassay involving hydrolysis with E. coli beta-glucuronidase, diethylether extraction, and Celite column chromatography. Conditions ensuring optimal hydrolysis were determined as well as quality control criteria. Sixty-eight male out-patients wre studied. These subjects were divided into three age groups: I (n = 21; age 20-35 years), II (n = 21; age: 36-50 years), and III (n = 26; age: 51-70 years). Patients under 50 years of age had infertility with no abnormalities upon sperm analysis. Older patients had erectile dysfunction. All subjects had serum gonadotropin (FSH and LH) and prolactin levels within the normal range for age. Adiol glucuronide levels (mean +/- SD) were as follows: 5.0 +/- 2.2 ng/ml (range: 1.6-9.5), 5.4 +/- 3.8 ng/ml (range 1.4-16.0) and 4.5 +/- 2.5 ng/ml (range 1.2-9.3) in groups I, II and III respectively. A trend towards lower Adiol glucuronide levels with advancing age was found but there was no significant difference between group III and the other two groups. Similarly, no significant correlation was found between Adiol glucuronide levels and age (r = -0.12). Conversely, a significant correlation (r = 0.37; p less than 0.01) was observed between Adiol glucuronide levels and bioavailable testosterone (T) levels. This finding might be the consequence of a certain enhancement of 5 alpha-reductase activity with age and/or the non significant decrease with age of another precursor.

Effect of single dose aspirin on the development of penile hypercoagulability during erection.

The effect of aspirin on the development of hypercoagulability in the penile blood during erection was studied in five Chacma baboons. Aspirin prevented the generation of hypercoagulability and may be of importance in delaying the development of penile atherosclerosis and ageing impotence.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia: report of a case with penile lesions.

A case of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia of the penis is reported. In addition to the proliferation of swollen endothelial cells with features of histiocytes ("histiocytoid endothelial cells"), the lesions also showed a remarkable proliferation of pericytes both in relation to formed vascular channels and away from them. The authors consider that the inflammatory component is associated with even the earliest stages in the development of the lesions and that it not be dismissed as secondary.