Cryptorchidism and Delayed Testicular Descent in Florida Black Bears

Ectopic testis in coati (Nasua nasua Linnaeus, 1766)

“…In coatis, there is no information in the literature regarding the migration time of the testes into the scrotum. Cryptorchidism in captive wild animals can help to indentify populations that possibly suffer with inbreeding, exposure to certain chemical products of biological risks and nutritional deficiencies (Roelke et al 1993, Dunbar et al 1996, Mansfield & Land 2002. Burton & Ramsay (1986) discussed the possibility of a correlation between the appearance of birth defects and loss of genetic diversity in manned wolves from North American zoos.…”

“…The study revealed that the length and width of the right testis was 1.7±0.2 and 2.6±0.2; and left testis was 1.7±0.1 and 2.5±0.3 respectively, but had similar sizes when compared to the results reported by Franciolli et al (2007) who evaluated the anatomy of two coatis. Dunbar et al (1996) described the occurrence of cryptorchidism and a delay in testicular descent in black bears (U. Americanus) during the first year of life. In domestic dogs, testicular descent can occur between four and five weeks and, usually, six to eight weeks after birth (Nascimento & Santos, 2003).…”

“…Burton & Ramsay (1986) observed a case of monorchidism in four manned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) born in two litters from a North American zoo. Dunbar et al (1996) analyzed 71 black bears (Ursus americanus) in Florida and observed cryptorchidism in four (5.6%) animals, three being unilateral with the testicle located in the inguinal region (two on the right and one on the left), and a bilateral case with both testes found in the abdominal region. In all cases, the testis had reduced dimensions compared with the normal descended testis (Dunbar et al 1996, Dias et al 2007, corroborating with the findings in the presented report.…”

“…Cryptorchidism has been described in the manned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus), black bear (Ursus americanus) and puma (Puma concolor coryi) (Burton & Ramsey 1986, Dunbar et al 1996, Mansfield & Land 2002, Dias et al 2007. This is the first ectopic testis case reported in coati (Nasua nasua), detailing its clinical evaluation and histopathologic findings.…”

“…Predisposing factors can be related to this disorder such as testicular hypoplasia, estrogen exposure, impairment of the blood supply to the testes during fetal life, infections during testicular descent (Romagnoli 1991, Facemire et al 1995, Johnston et al 2001, maternal vitamin A deficiency during fetal development, exposure to environmental contaminants and low genetic variability (O'Brien et al 1990, Roelke et al 1993, Barone et al 1994, Facemire et al 1995, Dunbar et al 1996, Mansfield & Land 2002. Ectopic testis are associated with several clinical finds including testicular neoplasia, oligospermic or azoospermic animals, increase in local sensitivity, behavioral disorders, irritability or hypersexuality, dermatopathies and torsion of the spermatic cord (Mattos et al 2000, Morris & Dobson 2001, Hahn 2002, Daugaard et al 2006, Maestri 2007, Timothy et al 2007.…”