Testicular microlithiasis in two dogs
Keywords:
Dog, testis, microliths, infertility, ultrasonogrpahy
Abstract
Testicular microliths are small areas of calcification in testicular tissue, identified ultrasonographically as diffuse, punctate, nonshadowing, and hyperechoic foci. Poor semen quality is associated with increasing numbers of testicular microliths in humans. There is much less description of this phenomenon in animals; we are describing 2 dogs that had microlithiasis.
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References
1. Miller RL, Wissman R, White S, et al: Testicular microlithiasis: a benign condition with a malignant association. J Clin Ultrasound 1996;24:197-202. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0096(199605)24:4<197::AID-JCU6>3.0.CO;2-A.
2. Bennett HF, Middleton WD, Bullock AD, et al: Testicular microlithiasis: US follow-up. Radiol 2001;218:359-363. doi: 10.1148/radiology.218.2.r01fe25359
3. Saavedra-Jimenez LA, Olvera-Ramirez JF, Nunez-Martinez G, et al: Exploratory study: testicular microlithiasis in cattle from the Costa Chica region. Agro Productividad 2022;15:89-94. doi: 10.32854/agrop.v15i4.2131
4. Chandolia RK, Singh G, Kumar A, et al: Testicular microlithiasis in a buffalo bull – a rare case. Haryana Vet 2018;57:122-123. Available from: https://www.luvas.edu.in/haryana-veterinarian/download/harvet2018-june/40.pdf
5. Bornman MS, Barnhoorn IEJ, DeJager C, et al: Testicular microlithiasis and neoplastic lesions in wild eland (Tragelaphus oryx): possible effects of exposure to environmental pollutants? Environ Res 2010;110:327-333. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2010.02.003
6. DeCastro BJ, Peterson AC, Constable RA: A 5-year followup study of asymptomatic men with testicular microlithiasis. J Urol 2008;179:1420-1423. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2007.11.080
7. Peterson AC, Bauman JM, Light DE, et al: The prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in an asymptomatic population of men 18 to 35 years old. J Urol 2001;166:2061-2064. doi: 10.1016/S0022-5347(05)65506-1
8. Aoun F, Slaoui A, Naoum E, et al: Testicular microlithiasis: systemic review and clinical guidelines. Prog Urol 2019;29:465-473. doi: 10.1016/j.purol.2019.07.001
9. Pedersen MR, Rafaelsen SR, Moller H, et al: Testicular microlithiasis and testicular cancer: review of the literature. Intl J Urol Nephrol 2016;48:1079-1086. doi: 10.1007/s11255-016-1267-2
10. Balawender K, Orkisz S, Wisz P: Testicular microlithiasis: what urologists should know. A review of the current literature. Cent European J Urol 2018;71:310-314. doi: 10.5173/ceju.2018.1728
11. Moran JM, Moreno F, Climent V, et al: Idiopathic testicular microlithiasis: ultrastructural study. Br J Urol 1993;72:252-253. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1993.tb00702.x
12. Leblanc L, Lagrange F, Lecoanet P, et al: Testicular microlithiasis and testicular tumor: a review of the literature. Basic Clin Androl 2018;28:8. doi: 10.1186/s12610-018-0073-3
13. Xu C, Liu M, Zhang F-F, et al: The association between testicular microlithiasis and semen parameters in Chinese adult men with fertility intention: experience of 226 cases. Urol 2014;84:815-820. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2014.03.021
14. Hiramatsu I, Tsujimura A, Miyoshi M, et al: Prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in healthy newlywed men trying for first-time pregnancy. Intl J Urol 2020;27:990-995. doi: 10.1111/iju.14342
15. Shirai N, Evans MG: Testicular microlithiasis in a clinically healthy cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). J Toxic Pathol 2018;31:147-150. doi: 10.1293/tox.2017-0065
16. Pedersen MR, Moller H, Rafaelsen SR, et al: Association between risk factors and testicular microlithiasis. Acta Radiol Open 2019;8:1-6. doi: 10.1177/2058460119870297
17. O’Shaughnessy PJ, Monteiro A, Verhoeven G, et al: Occurrence of testicular microlithiasis in androgen insensitive hypogonadal mice. Repro Biol Endocrinol 2009;7:88. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-7-88
18. Zhang QH, Lu GS, Shen XC, et al: Nanobacteria may be linked to testicular microlithiasis in infertility. J Androl 2010;31:121-125. doi: 10.2164/jandrol.109.007930
19. Lin X-C, Gao X, Lu G-S, et al: Role of calcifying nanoparticles in the development of testicular microlithiasis in vivo. BMC Urol 2017;17:99. doi 10.1186/s12894-017-0289-0
2. Bennett HF, Middleton WD, Bullock AD, et al: Testicular microlithiasis: US follow-up. Radiol 2001;218:359-363. doi: 10.1148/radiology.218.2.r01fe25359
3. Saavedra-Jimenez LA, Olvera-Ramirez JF, Nunez-Martinez G, et al: Exploratory study: testicular microlithiasis in cattle from the Costa Chica region. Agro Productividad 2022;15:89-94. doi: 10.32854/agrop.v15i4.2131
4. Chandolia RK, Singh G, Kumar A, et al: Testicular microlithiasis in a buffalo bull – a rare case. Haryana Vet 2018;57:122-123. Available from: https://www.luvas.edu.in/haryana-veterinarian/download/harvet2018-june/40.pdf
5. Bornman MS, Barnhoorn IEJ, DeJager C, et al: Testicular microlithiasis and neoplastic lesions in wild eland (Tragelaphus oryx): possible effects of exposure to environmental pollutants? Environ Res 2010;110:327-333. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2010.02.003
6. DeCastro BJ, Peterson AC, Constable RA: A 5-year followup study of asymptomatic men with testicular microlithiasis. J Urol 2008;179:1420-1423. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2007.11.080
7. Peterson AC, Bauman JM, Light DE, et al: The prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in an asymptomatic population of men 18 to 35 years old. J Urol 2001;166:2061-2064. doi: 10.1016/S0022-5347(05)65506-1
8. Aoun F, Slaoui A, Naoum E, et al: Testicular microlithiasis: systemic review and clinical guidelines. Prog Urol 2019;29:465-473. doi: 10.1016/j.purol.2019.07.001
9. Pedersen MR, Rafaelsen SR, Moller H, et al: Testicular microlithiasis and testicular cancer: review of the literature. Intl J Urol Nephrol 2016;48:1079-1086. doi: 10.1007/s11255-016-1267-2
10. Balawender K, Orkisz S, Wisz P: Testicular microlithiasis: what urologists should know. A review of the current literature. Cent European J Urol 2018;71:310-314. doi: 10.5173/ceju.2018.1728
11. Moran JM, Moreno F, Climent V, et al: Idiopathic testicular microlithiasis: ultrastructural study. Br J Urol 1993;72:252-253. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1993.tb00702.x
12. Leblanc L, Lagrange F, Lecoanet P, et al: Testicular microlithiasis and testicular tumor: a review of the literature. Basic Clin Androl 2018;28:8. doi: 10.1186/s12610-018-0073-3
13. Xu C, Liu M, Zhang F-F, et al: The association between testicular microlithiasis and semen parameters in Chinese adult men with fertility intention: experience of 226 cases. Urol 2014;84:815-820. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2014.03.021
14. Hiramatsu I, Tsujimura A, Miyoshi M, et al: Prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in healthy newlywed men trying for first-time pregnancy. Intl J Urol 2020;27:990-995. doi: 10.1111/iju.14342
15. Shirai N, Evans MG: Testicular microlithiasis in a clinically healthy cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). J Toxic Pathol 2018;31:147-150. doi: 10.1293/tox.2017-0065
16. Pedersen MR, Moller H, Rafaelsen SR, et al: Association between risk factors and testicular microlithiasis. Acta Radiol Open 2019;8:1-6. doi: 10.1177/2058460119870297
17. O’Shaughnessy PJ, Monteiro A, Verhoeven G, et al: Occurrence of testicular microlithiasis in androgen insensitive hypogonadal mice. Repro Biol Endocrinol 2009;7:88. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-7-88
18. Zhang QH, Lu GS, Shen XC, et al: Nanobacteria may be linked to testicular microlithiasis in infertility. J Androl 2010;31:121-125. doi: 10.2164/jandrol.109.007930
19. Lin X-C, Gao X, Lu G-S, et al: Role of calcifying nanoparticles in the development of testicular microlithiasis in vivo. BMC Urol 2017;17:99. doi 10.1186/s12894-017-0289-0
Published
2025-09-18
How to Cite
Root Kustritz , M., & Kissner , M. (2025). Testicular microlithiasis in two dogs. Clinical Theriogenology, 17. https://doi.org/10.58292/CT.v17.13050
Section
Case Reports
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