Bilateral caudal epididymectomy (BCE) is a type of surgery often performed to render a male animal infertile but retain normal sexual behavior and can be used in teaser animals. This study examined the long-term impacts of BCE on the testicular histology and secreted Leydig cell dynamics in adult bucks. Twenty clinically healthy, local-breed bucks were selected and assessed for 6 months after surgery. Sexual behavior was measured by the time of the libido response, and semen parameters, such as mass motility and sperm concentration, were measured to prove that the BCE procedure makes the buck sterile while preserving its normal sexual behavior. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the serum testosterone levels, and testicular tissue histopathological studies were conducted at set intervals. The testosterone levels were relatively constant during most of the study, but significantly higher at the last stage. Histological evidence of a progressive degeneration of the seminiferous tubules with a pronounced increase in interstitial tissue and a large increase in the number of Leydig cells was obtained. Finally, BCE causes permanent infertility in bucks without affecting testosterone production and sexual behavior. The related histological alterations indicate a compensatory Leydig cell proliferation related to tubular degeneration. These results suggest that BCE can be a viable technique in generating the reproductive control activities of teaser males. Thus, BCE teaser males could be used for up to 6 months.
This report describes malignant melanoma in a 21-year-old African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) maintained under captive management. The penguin exhibited a rapid decline in clinical condition, characterized by lethargy and anorexia, and despite 5 days of supportive fluid therapy, the animal subsequently died. At necropsy, the spleen was markedly enlarged, and multiple black nodules were present in the liver, lungs, kidneys, musculature, ribs, and scapula. Impression smear cytology demonstrated intracytoplasmic dark pigment, and histopathology revealed densely packed, highly invasive melanocytic cells with frequent lymphovascular emboli. Immunohistochemistry showed strong melanoma associated antigen (PNL2) positivity and Melan A negativity, consistent with previously reported penguin melanomas. Age appeared to be the most plausible predisposing factor, whereas a definitive environmental or genetic cause could not be established. Although molting involves dynamic melanocyte activity and physiological stress, there is no direct evidence that it initiates malignant transformation; however, molting-associated changes may mask early disease.
This study compared the county-level shelter outcome profiles and length of stay among rescued stray and lost dogs in three rural counties of northern Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea: Yeongyang-gun, Cheongsong-gun, and Yeongdeok-gun. Administrative individual-case records collected from 2021 to 2025 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 2,791 dog cases were analyzed, and the length of stay could be calculated for 289, 993, and 1,501 cases in Yeongyang-gun, Cheongsong-gun, and Yeongdeok-gun, respectively. The outcome profiles differed markedly. Yeongyang-gun had high adoption (51.0%), very low euthanasia (1.7%), and prolonged mean length of stay (161.36 ± 204.37 days). Cheongsong-gun had low adoption (11.3%), high euthanasia (70.9%), and shorter mean length of stay (36.61 ± 38.96 days). Yeongdeok-gun had low adoption (17.0%), high euthanasia (48.2%), a substantial natural-death proportion (27.2%), and a mean length of stay of 40.93 ± 34.78 days. The distribution of dispositions differed among counties (χ² = 644.88, p < 0.001), and the time to final shelter disposition also differed (log-rank χ² = 275.08, p < 0.001). In an adjustment analysis restricted to adoption and euthanasia cases, county-level differences persisted after accounting for sex, age group, breed category, and place of discovery. Puppies (odds ratio [OR], 3.35), purebred dogs (OR, 12.28), and dogs found in residential areas (OR, 1.62) had higher adoption odds (all p ≤ 0.009). These findings identified distinct county-level outcome profiles but did not establish the causal effects of shelter management. Future studies should directly evaluate shelter-level factors that may explain these differences.
This study was carried out using 58 roe deer carcasses in Jeju from April 2008 to October 2011. According to necropsy and laboratory examinations such as pathologic, parasitic, and bacterial tests, 17 (29.3%) bacterial infections, 49 (84.5%) parasitic infections, and 14 (24.1%) non-infectious diseases were diagnosed. The pathogens of bacterial diseases (n=17) associated with roe deer death were Escherichia coli (n = 11, 19.0%), Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (n = 3, 5.2%), Streptococcus spp. (n = 2, 3.4%), and Bordetella bronchiseptica (n = 1, 1.7%). The detected parasites (n = 49) in roe deer included Sarcocystis spp. (n = 31, 53.4%), Dictyocaulus spp. (n = 29, 50.0%), Strongyloides spp. (n = 15, 25.9%), Trichuris ovis (n = 14, 24.1%), Ostertagia spp. (n = 11, 19.0%), and Eimeria spp. (n = 9, 15.5%). Aspiration pneumonia was the most common non-infectious disease. This study provides valuable basic information to set up a management plan for roe deer in Jeju.
A double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) is defined as complete or predominant origin of both great arteries from the right ventricle and is almost always associated with a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Although DORV shows marked heterogeneity in humans, it is rare in veterinary medicine, with only a limited number of reported cases. This study evaluated 2 dogs with distinct hemodynamic characteristics. Case 1 was a 3-year-old Shiba Inu with DORV, a large subaortic perimembranous VSD, subaortic stenosis, and severe pulmonary hypertension. Despite the elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, left-to-right shunting predominated because of elevated left ventricular systolic pressure secondary to subaortic stenosis. Case 2 was a 5-year-old mongrel dog with a subaortic perimembranous VSD, in which the aortic root showed approximately 50% dextroposition and was mostly connected to the right ventricular component of the heart, leading to a diagnosis of DORV. Severe pulmonary hypertension and a bidirectional VSD shunt with dominant right-to-left flow were consistent with the Eisenmenger physiology. These cases revealed the structural diversity of canine conotruncal anomalies and highlight the importance of detailed echocardiographic assessment.
