Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Testicular biopsy effects on health and sperm in cockatiels
By Hänse, Maria et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2013·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Testicular biopsy in psittacine birds (Psittaciformes): impact of endoscopy and biopsy on health, testicular morphology, and sperm parameters.
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A group of male cockatiels and rose-ringed parakeets underwent testicular biopsies using endoscopy to check their reproductive health. The procedure was performed four times over a year, but only two birds showed minor tissue damage after the first biopsy. Most birds experienced only temporary effects on sperm production and quality, indicating that a single biopsy is generally safe and effective for assessing male psittacine birds' reproductive status.
People also search for: cockatiel reproductive health · parakeet sperm quality · bird testicular biopsy risks
Abstract
Histologic examination of a testicular biopsy sample may be required to evaluate the reproductive status of male psittacine birds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of testicular sampling from live birds by assessing the impact on the birds' health, testicular integrity, and sperm quality. Testicular biopsy samples were obtained by endoscopy 4 times during 12 months from 9 cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) and 7 rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri). Only 2 of 16 birds showed testicular cicatrization or divided testicular tissue after a single endoscopy. Further complications, such as damage to the air sacs or bleeding, predominantly occurred in subsequent endoscopies. In both species, endoscopy and testicular biopsy caused only minor or transient effects on sperm production and sperm quality. These results support that a single testicular biopsy is a viable method for evaluating the reproductive status of male psittacine birds.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24640926/