Hypospadias in a polar bear (Ursus maritimus).
Corrective surgery on a 1.5-yr-old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) with hypospadias included amputation of the vestigial penis, bilateral orchiectomy with scrotal ablation, and distal perineal urethrostomy. Hypospadias in other species is a congenital deformity that may be caused by extra- and intrauterine factors resulting in a disruption of the testosterone balance during urethral development, but the causative mechanism in this bear is unknown. The urethrostomy site was functional without complications 8 mo after surgery.
Stamper
M A
MA
Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
Norton
T
T
Spodnick
G
G
Marti
J
J
Loomis
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D007021:Hypospadias / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001503:Ursidae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery