Urinary blockage in a newborn hermaphroditic llama

Abstract

A 24-hour-old cria was admitted for evaluation of stranguria evident shortly after birth. On physical examination, the prepuce appeared to be normally formed and small drops of fluid dripped from it as the cria strained to urinate. Testes could not be palpated. Ultrasonographic examination revealed that the bladder was distended. The only abnormality detected on serum biochemical analysis was high creatinine concentration. Tube cystostomy was performed, and the cria was treated with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution administered intravenously and antibiotics. Four days after admission, the cria could not urinate normally when the cystostomy tube was occluded. Five days after admission, normograde cystography and retrograde urethrography were performed. Radiographic findings indicated the cria was an intersex llama with urethral duplication. The llama was euthanatized at the owner's request. Necropsy revealed bilateral ovotestes with a phenotypically female reproductive tract and urethral duplication. Urethral duplication should be considered as a cause of stranguria in male neonatal crias, and hermaphroditism should be included as a cause of urethropathies in llamas.