Clinical Methods for Counting Canine Sperm: Automated and Manual Techniques

The breeding soundness examination (BSE) in the canine primarily involves obtaining pertinent breeding history, assessment of overall health, careful examination of penis, testes and prostate, and semen analysis.1,2 Semen analysis is arguably the most integral part of the BSE. Assessment of semen quality requires determination of ejaculate volume and pH, assessment of all cell types present in ejaculate, determination of sperm concentration, assessment of total and progressive motility, and assessment of sperm morphology.1,3 Clinical theriogenologists and small animal reproductive veterinarians routinely make important decisions based on semen analysis. Accurately determining quality and concentration of the sperm has become increasingly important for the small animal practitioner, as semen freezing and artificial insemination techniques have become more commonplace. Also, many companies are promoting and selling instruments to small animal veterinary practitioners that aid semen analysis. These instruments include: computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) systems, cell counters such as the NucleoCounter®, and photometric devices such as the Spermacue® and Densimeter® ...