title: Analysis of semen quality from each testis/duct system of a turkey with a duplicated cloaca and vent.
abstract: A case is described wherein a turkey male (tom) possessed two vent areas with duplicated cloacae served by one large intestine. Both cloacae were functional in that feces were excreted and semen could be collected from each. The left vas deferens and ureter emptied into the left cloaca, and the right vas deferens and ureter emptied into the right cloaca. This allowed semen from each testis/duct to be collected separately from the corresponding cloaca. Thus, a unique opportunity was presented to collect semen separately from the left and right testis/duct system for semen analysis and fertility determination. Sperm concentration and percentage of dead sperm were not significantly different when semen from left vs. right reproductive tract were compared. The concentrations of spermiophages in semen from both reproductive tracts fell into the range reported for normal semen (0-8 x 10(5)/ml); however, semen from the right side had consistently higher spermiophage concentrations than that from the left side. On the basis of observations from one male made possible by an anatomic anomaly, it appears that the fecundities of the left and right testis/duct systems of the turkey male do not significantly differ and that recruitment of spermiophages into one tract (because of immunologic challenge, etc.) does not necessarily mean that the opposite testis/ducts will respond similarly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, SC 29634-0361, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Thurston
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Korn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002988:Cloaca / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology; D014422:Turkeys / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000166:cytology