Laparoscopic-assisted cryptorchidectomy in South American camelids and Nigerian dwarf goats

Cryptorchidism is a common sexual development disorder in males with a potential hereditary origin in goats and camelids. Cryptorchid animals should be removed from breeding and castrated to eliminate male behavior. The objective of this paper is to describe the presentation and procedure of laparoscopic-assisted cryptorchidectomy in goats and South American camelids. Records of 18 Nigerian dwarf goats and 16 camelid cases that were presented to the WSU Theriogenology Services were included. Goats ranged in age from 2 months to 1 year and camelids (14 alpacas and 2 llamas) were between 15 months and 5 years of age. In goats, 15/18 (83%) were unilateral cryptorchids while 3/18 (17%) were bilateral. The right testicle was retained abdominally in 73.3% (11/15) of the unilaterally cryptorchid goats. All the camelids presented as unilateral cryptorchids with abdominally retained testis. The left testis was retained in 9/16 (56.25%) cases while the right was retained in 7/17 (43.75%). Laparoscopic-assisted cryptorchidectomy was performed under general anesthesia in all cases. The remaining scrotal testicle was castrated using a closed technique. There were no surgical complications. Ability to confirm the presence of cryptorchid testis without laparotomy, smaller incision, lesser intraabdominal manipulation, and lesser-no post/surgical complications advocate the use of this technique for cryptorchidectomy.