Seminoma in a southern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis minor): diagnosis, surgical management and effect on fertility |
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| Authors: | TJ Portas TB Hildebrandt BR Bryant F Göritz R Hermes |
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| Institution: | Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia;
Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany |
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| Abstract: | A testicular mass was identified by ultrasonography performed during a routine reproductive evaluation of an adult male southern black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis minor ). Histological examination of a testicular biopsy supported a presumptive diagnosis of testicular neoplasia. Hemi-castration was performed to excise the affected testis and a pathological diagnosis of a seminoma was made. Assessment of semen suggested reduced fertility as a consequence of the neoplastic process, but hemi-castration prevented further growth and metastasis of the tumour and ensured the animal's breeding potential. This is the second documented case of a seminoma in a rhinoceros species and the first case in a black rhinoceros. |
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| Keywords: | black rhinoceros fertility hemi-castration seminoma testicular neoplasia |
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