Age-related ultrasonography, cytology, and microbiologic exam of canine prostate

Abstract

The physiological parameters that could be reference for trustful diagnosis and prognosis of prostate disorders in dogs were obtained. Thirty six intact male dogs without clinical signs of neither prostatic nor reproductive disorders were allocated according the age in three groups. These animals were submitted to semen manual collection for microbiological exams; transabdominal ultrasonography to evaluate dimensions, ecogenicity, and texture of prostatic parenchyma and aspirative puncture with fine needle for cytological and microbiological analyses. Ultrasonography revealed that the predominant prostatic shape was round with regular surface. Dimensions varied according to age, being small in young animals and large in old ones. There was a positive correlation between prostatic dimensions and body weight. Microbiological exams detected microorganisms on seminal plasma from 11 dogs and prostate tissue aspirated from 10 animals, although they were healthy. Cytology did not reveal any inflammatory, proliferative, or neoplasic alteration in young and middle age dogs, but in three older dogs signs of hyperplasia/hypertrophy was found. It was observed positive correlation between age and cellular area but a negative correlation was observed between nucleus:cytoplasm ratio and craniocaudal dimension.