Rj. Thurston et N. Korn, Analysis of semen quality from each testis/duct system of a turkey with a duplicated cloaca and vent, AVIAN DIS, 44(4), 2000, pp. 1007-1011
A case is described wherein a turkey male (tom) possessed two vent areas wi
th duplicated cloacae served by one large intestine. Both cloacae were func
tional in that feces were excreted and semen could be collected from each.
The left vas deferens and ureter emptied into the left cloaca, and the righ
t vas deferens and ureter emptied into the right cloaca. This allowed semen
from each testis/duct to be collected separately from the corresponding cl
oaca. Thus, a unique opportunity was presented to collect semen separately
from the left and right testis/duct system for semen analysis and fertility
determination. Sperm concentration and percentage of dead sperm were not s
ignificantly different when semen from left vs. right reproductive tract we
re compared. The concentrations of spermiophages in semen from both reprodu
ctive tracts fell into the range reported fur normal semen (0-8 X 10(5)/ml)
; however, semen from the right side had consistently higher spermiophage c
oncentrations than that from the left side. On the basis of observations fr
om one male made possible by an anatomic anomaly, it appears that the fecun
dities of the left and right testis/duct systems of the turkey male do not
significantly differ and that recruitment of spermiophages into one tract (
because of immunologic challenge, etc.) does not necessarily mean that the
opposite testis/ducts will respond similarly.