Transcervical Artificial Insemination in Dogs and Cats: Review of the Technique and Practical Aspects

Abstract

Contents The technique of transcervical catheterization for artificial insemination has gained practical importance over the last 3 and 1 decades in bitches and queens, respectively. The vagina of both species has a thickening of the dorsal aspect called dorsal medial fold, which restricts the lumen of the paracervix, making catheterization of the cervix difficult both with manual and endoscopic techniques. Manual catheters have been used initially in the bitch and are now gradually being replaced by rigid endoscopy through the adaptation of human cystoscopes and ureteroscopes. Cystoscopes provide excellent imaging of the vagina, but cervical catheterization is more difficult due to the oblique 30° viewing angle of its telescope and may not be long enough to catheterize large size bitches. Ureteroscopes allow an acceptable view of the vaginal mucosa and offer advantages such as the possibility to catheterize the cervix of bitches of all body sizes, manipulate the cervical tubercle when the external cervical os is not visible, offer a better visualization of the cervix using the shunt (a large Foley catheter which allows insufflation and distention of the vagina). Feline cervical catheterization has been achieved with three different types of catheters; the last one, developed following careful anatomical studies of how the feline vaginal lumen changes during estrus, allows cervical catheterization thanks to digital manipulation of the cervix through the rectum.

Uterine haemodynamic, vascularization and blood pressure changes along the oestrous cycle in bitches

“…The advance of canine reproductive biotechnologies over the last decade have improved breeding management and gamete preservation in both domestic and wild canids (Chastant‐Maillard et al., ; Romagnoli & Lopate, ; Tsutsui, Hori, Endo, Hayama, & Kawakami, ). However, despite such technological progress, detailed characteristics of certain aspects of canine reproductive physiology remain unknown.…”

Artificial insemination in a cat: Report of first successful performance resulted with parturition in Turkey

“…On the same time with the tomcat, queen was anesthetized by medetomidine 0.20 ml + Propofol 1.0 ml (7,8). The semen filled catheter was inserted into the vagina and 27.5 µL extended semen is deposited.…”

The animal welfare aspects of surgical artificial insemination in the canine

“…Transcervical artificial insemination (TCI) was reported from Scandinavia in 1989 and 1991 1 (Linde-Forsberg et al)via catheterisationand New Zealand in 1993 2 (Wilson)via endoscopy; cited by Romagnoli et al 3 In 2012, the TCI procedure was reported by Lopate, 4 and it has subsequently become a relatively common procedure in veterinary clinical canine breeding practice. Australian (Mason et al) 5 and New Zealand (Hollinshead et al) 6 reports have illustrated that the fertility of TCI is the same as, or better than, surgical AI in the canine, especially when using frozen-thawed semen.…”