Genital Tract Morphopathology of Red Sokoto and West African Dwarf Does in Makurdi

This study was conducted with the aim to record pathological conditions of the female genital tract of Red Sokoto (RS) and West African Dwarf (WAD) does with the objective of comparing the prevalence of genital tract pathology between the two breeds. Of the 211 (RS) and 221 (WAD) genital tract collected and examined, 104 (49.3%) of RS and 97 (43.3%) of WAD showed different types of pathological conditions. Highest occurrence of pathological conditions found in RS was in the uterus (38.4%), followed by those in the ovary (30.8%), cervix (6.6%), salpinx (6.2%) and vagina (1.4%) while in WAD, pathological conditions were highest in the uterus (28.1%), and followed by ovary (26.8%), salpinx (5.0%), cervix (2.2%) and vagina (0.5%). In RS and WAD does, respectively, endometritis (11.9% and 7.1%) was the most common pathology followed by ovaro-bursal adhesion (10.4% and 5.4%), inactive ovaries (4.3% and 4.9%), cystic Graffian follicles (4.2% and 2.2%), paraovarian cyst (3.3% and 3.1%), uterine haemorrhage (3.8% and 2.7%), and ovarian hypoplasia (2.4% and 4.5%). Other pathological conditions found in RS and WAD does include cervical lesions: cervicitis (2.8% and 1.8%), haemorrhage (3.2% and 0.5%); uterine lesions: hydrometra (1.9% and 1.3%), pyometra (2.8% and 1.8%), mucometra (2.8% and 3.6%), metritis (2.4% and 1.3%), post parturient metritis (2.8% and 1.8%), caruncular atrophy (1.4% and 0.5%), endometrial hyperplasia (1.0% and 1.8%), melanosis (1.9% and 1.8%), post parturient emphysematous metritis (1.4% and 2.2%), perimetritis (1.4% and 2.2%), uterine congestion (1.9% and 2.2%), oedema (1.0% and 0.5%) and Cysticercus tenuicolis cyst (0.5% and 0.5%); esophageal lesions: salpingitis (1.9% and 3.1%), hydrosalpinx (1.0% and 0.5%), tubo-bursal cyst (3.3% and 0.9%), ovarian lesions: cystic corpora lutea (2.8% and 1.8%), ooHow to cite this paper: Garba, I., Dawuda, P.M., Ate, J.I. and Abenga, U.N. (2019) Genital Tract Morphopathology of Red Sokoto and West African Dwarf Does in Makurdi. Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 9, 21-44. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojvm.2019.93003 Received: September 25, 2018 Accepted: March 26, 2019 Published: March 29, 2019 Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access


Introduction
Goat keeping has assumed a key position in the rural development programmes of the developing countries especially Nigeria. This is because they contribute meat, milk, fibre, manure etc. that are useful to rural and semi-urban life. Small ruminants make up the bulk of the population of animals in Nigeria [1] and constitute about 63.9% of the total grazing domestic livestock [2] [3]. The demand for animal protein has been on the increase in Nigeria because of the increase in population over the years which have resulted into increased importation of meat and milk products to supplement the local shortfalls [5]. The average daily animal protein consumption per head in Nigeria was put at 15 g/day [6] with a further decline to 9.0 g/day [2] which is far less than the WHO recommendation of 35 g/day. Regular and successful reproduction is the key to profitable goat production. This entails early attainment of sexual maturity and raising of two crops of kids per year with a twinning rate of 10% -30% during a doe's reproductive life [7] [8]. This target may not be attained due to reproductive problems among female goats.
Genital tract abnormalities play an important role in animal production either by causing sub-fertility, infertility or sterility, longer inter-kidding interval, and increased expense on medication in farm resulting in huge economic loss to the livestock owners [9] [10] [11]. These disorders can be caused by congenital or hereditary, infectious, nutritional or environmental factors [9] [12].
The occurrence of genital pathologies has been reported to cause reproductive disturbances ranging from 1.9% to 23.32% in female goats [9] [11] [13] [14] [15]. The prevalence of genital pathologies has also been reported to increase with age in female goats [9] [16] and between breeds in cows [17].
Although reports on genital disorders in goats are scanty as compared to cattle West African Dwarf does. Hence, the present study was undertaken to investigate abattoir specimens for the prevalence and types of genital tract morphopathologies in female goats.

Study Location
The study was carried out at the pathology laboratory of the veterinary teaching

Sample Size
Sample size was determined by using the formula of [19] at 95% confidence level and prevalence rate of 15.14% as reported by [9] in Maradi Goats, Ibadan, Nigeria. Therefore, at least 200 non-pregnant genital tracts from Red Sokoto and West African Dwarf does, respectively, were collected.

Source of Genital Organs
Does genital organs sampled for the study were collected after the Halal slaughter procedure from Wurukum and international cattle market abattoirs, respec-

Gross Examination of Genital Organs of RS and WAD Does
Systematic examination of the doe genital organs was carried out as described by [21]. Evaluation was done by visual appraisal, palpation and incision. Lesions were examined and described by their size, consistency, colour, shape, smell or location as described by [22] and the malformation of the different parts of the genital tracts were also observed and recorded. Each reproductive tract was opened by cutting with a pair of sterilized scissors, starting from the vulva, into the vagina through the cervix and uterine body, into each horn, oviduct and finally the ovaries.
Syringe and needle was used to aspirate fluid/pus into a graduated cylinder to measure the volume (ml). Size, diameter and length of the abnormalities were measured using a meter rule (mm). Follicles and corpus luteum > 12 mm were considered cystic [23].

Preparation of Tissue Samples for Histological Examination
The paraffin wax method described by [24] was used for processing tissue for histological examination. Representative samples were preserved in 10% formalin and processed after proper fixation to make paraffin embedded blocks in Spin tissue processor (STP), 120 Thermoscientific® at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State. Tissues were sectioned using a rotary microtome (MICROM HM340E) ThermoScientific® set at 4 micromes, picked onto slides and stained using H&E stain method described by [25]. The processed slides were examined by light microscopy at various magnifications (×4, ×10 and ×40). Pathological conditions in various parts of female genital tract were categorized based on characteristic gross as well histopathological features.

Data Analysis
Descriptive statistics were used to represent the data generated. Chi-square was used to compare association between the prevalence of lesion and breed. Odd ratio was determined to test the correlation between age and lesions.
Prevalence of abnormalities expressed in percentage was determined using the relationship:

( )
Number of does affected Prevalence rate % 100 Total number of does = × All data analysis was subjected to Graphpad Prism Statistical Software version 7.03 [26]. P-value was considered significant at P < 0.05.
Bilateral bursal adhesions (Figure 9) to the ovary and the oviduct occurred in 10 (9.6%) and 8 (8.3%) cases of RS and WAD does, respectively. However, the right ovary 11 (10.6%) was the most affected in the RS does. Cystic Graffian follicles         Ovarian hypoplasia (Figure 12(a)) was found in 5 (4.8%) and 10 (10.3%) of RS and WAD does, respectively, ( Table 5). The prevalence was higher in WAD (4.5%) than in RS (2.5%). One bilateral and two unilateral case in RS while in WAD four are bilateral and six unilateral (4-right sided and 2-left sided) were observed. The ovaries appeared "V", "C" and bean-shaped with no visible follicles or corpus luteum on the ovaries (Figure 12(a), Figure 12(b)). Histology revealed fibrosis around the oocytes with distortion of zona pellucida. Granulosa theca cells and the tunica albuginea were thickened and the ovarian cortex was reduced in thickness and contained some atretic follicles (Figure 12(d)).
The prevalence rate of salpingitis in RS (1.9%) does was lower as compared to WAD (3.1%) does (Table 6). Hydrosalpinx ( Figure 14) prevalence rate of 1.0% in RS does and 0.5% in WAD does were recorded (Table 6). Bilateral salpingitis was more common than unilateral (left or right) and occurred more in the RS (3.0%) as compared to that in WAD (2.1%) while unilateral hydrosalpinx was more common and occurred more in RS does (1.0%) each of left and right and only on the left salpinx in WAD doe (1.0%) ( Table 6). Tubo-bursal cysts ( Figure   15) occurred in 7 (6.7%) of RS and were higher than 2 (2.1%) of WAD does (Table 6). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in lesions found on the left and right salpinx between RS and WAD does, respectively, and between left and right salpingeal lesions in RS and WAD does.
Cervicitis was higher in RS does (2.8%) as compared to WAD does (1.8%) ( Table 7). They were characterized by cervical mucosa hyperaemia and lined by thin serosanguinous exudates. Necrosis and sloughing of the mucosal epithelium in few cases and diffuse mucosal infiltration by lymphocytes were observed.  Haemorrhagic necrotising cervicitis ( Table 7). The external cervical opening was dilated and hemorrhagic (Figure 16(a)). Necrosis of the cervical wall and diffuse infiltration by lymphocytes and few macrophages were observed microscopically ( Figure 16(b)). Other cervical lesions include: haemorrhage (3.2% and 0.5% in RS and WAD, respectively), and calcification of caudal cervical rugae (0.5%) (Figure 17). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in cervical lesions between RS and WAD does.        ( Table 8). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in vaginal lesions between RS and WAD does.

Discussion
Results of the present study show that the occurrence of female genital lesions in the two breeds of 49.3% and 43.3%, respectively, were high compared to the findings of [11] [13] [22], in Indian goats [15], in Nigeria and [19] in Uganda, who reported prevalence of 1.9% to 23.32% of female genital disorders in goats, respectively. Although no statistical difference (P > 0.05) in the occurrence of genital pathologies between RS and WAD in the present study, the high prevalence may have been due to breed difference and environmental effect.
The prevalence of genital lesions was highest in the 13 -24 months age group in RS and WAD breeds, respectively, in the present study. This could mean that    age is an important intrinsic factor that contributes to the distribution of reproductive abnormalities. This agrees with findings of [15] and [16] who reported that susceptibility to reproductive disease increases with age. Thus, the high occurrence of genital tract pathology in this age group may have been due to their active reproductive age. This is in line with the report of [27] and [28]. Hence, this age group is more prone to different pathological changes of the genital tracts. However, there was no statistical correlation in age and lesions between RS and WAD in this study. Pathological conditions of the uterus of RS (38.4%) and WAD (25.6%) were lower than earlier reports of 53.24%, 41.34% and 70% by [11] [14] and [29] in Iranian and India does, respectively, but higher than that reported [15] of 14.6% goats.
Uterine haemorrhage was reported in 30 out of 1200 (2.5%) goats [15], which was much lower than current findings.  [59], respectively, but lower than the report of 3.7% [9]. It has been commonly associated with secondary or nonspecific infections ascending from the uterus [60]. Bilateral hydosalpinx causes sterility but unilateral hydroslpinx and mild salpingitis have been reported to cause varying degrees of infertility in goats since the sloughed or degenerated epithelium is unable to support ovum survival [9] [36] [60]. Hydrosalpinx, like hydrometra, can lead to infertility and subfertility, since intraluminal fluid interferes with embryo attachment [48].
Most of the ovaro-bursal adhesions in this study occurred unilaterally (right-sided)in association with inflammatory conditions of uterus, ovary and salpinx and the figures obtained in RS (10.4%) and WAD (5.4%) were higher Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine compared to3.7%, 0.45%, 1.9% and 2.99% [9] [11] [15] [61] in goats, respectively. The result of this study is consistent with 6.36% [52] reported in ewes. [15] reported that chronic pelvic inflammatory reaction sequential to previous abortions or post-partum complications seems to be the cause of ovaro-bursal adhesions. The incidence was more prevalent in the RS compared to WAD does. Ovaro-bursal and tubo-bursal adhesions can cause infertility by interfering with ovulation and/or the passage of ova into the oviduct [9] [61] [62] [63].
[55] and [61] reported 1.0% and 0.55% of ovarian hypoplasia in ewes and does, respectively, which were lower than the 2.4% in RS does and 4.5% in WAD in this study. Ovarian hypoplasia in this study was characterized by the incomplete development or ovarian dysgenesis and ovary lacking in primordial follicles. The cause could not be established in this study but like many other ovarian abnormalities, it can cause anestrous.
The prevalence Cysticercus tenuicolis cysts of 1.5% in RS and 1.4% in WAD in this study were higher than previous reports of 0.1% [9]. They were found on the uterine body and attached to the ovarian pole and occurred bilateraly and unilateral in this study. This agrees with previous report by [23]. Cysticercus tenuicolis cysts and paraovarian cysts can impair fertility if exerting pressure on the oviduct [23] [69].
The abnormalities of the vagina in this study could be due to vaginal trauma e.g. during kidding, natural breeding [3], extension of utero-cervical hemorrhages [11] orinfections [70].

Conclusion
The prevalence of genital tract pathology is higher in the RS (49.3%) as compared to WAD (43.3%) breeds but is not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The two breeds suffer from genital pathologies which were predominated by the uterus, followed by those in the ovary, cervix, salpinx and vagina. Endometritis is the most common pathological lesion found followed by ovaro-bursal adhe-Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine sions. Genital tract pathologies occur more in the 13 -24 months old group which is the most active reproductive age. The genital pathologies found may cause varying degrees and potential infertility or sterility in does. The findings of this study will give a window to investigation of genital disorders on the farm and seasonal variation incidences to ascertain their possible impact on the reproductive performance of does.