LORI.porcine

Resecting the preputial diverticulae in boars

Keywords: balling, diverticulum. penis, prepuce, porcine, boar

Each preputial diverticulum lies dorso-lateral to the preputial cavity, just caudal to its opening. The diverticulae are poorly developed in castrated males but in mature boars, they are important sources of scent for territorial marking (together with metacarpal, preorbital, and tusk glands).

The preputial diverticulae are a potent source of objectionable odor to humans and harbor Actinobaculum suis (Corynebacterium suis) and other bacteria associated with cystitis. The diverticulae can also be involved in a syndrome known as  "balling up" where the penis enters one of the diverticulae during attempted copulation. The boar mounts the sow but ejaculates within the diverticulum; a cause of infertility. Finally as seen at the bottom of this entry, a rather old but unique photograph shows that the preputial diverticulae may occasionally prolapse through the preputial opening.

In commercial swine production, boars with abnormalities are usually culled from the herd but in Swine A.I. units, these diverticulae may be resected to improve hygiene. In pet Pot-bellied pigs, it is common to remove the diverticulae at the time of castration.

At upper left, this diagram shows the location of the diverticulae and how the penis enters one of the diverticulae. At lower right, the basic approach to surgical removal of the diverticulae is shown.

Image size 1375 x 966 px

Image size 788 x 589 px  Holder of copyright of image is Dr Lawrence Evans, retired. Permission for use granted by the Department of Theriogenology. College of Veterinary Medicine · Iowa State University · Ames, Iowa 50011. Dr Swanand R Sathe. BVSc, MVSc, MS, DACT. ssathe@iastate.

General anesthesia is induced. After flushing the diverticulae with a dilute iodine solution to cleanse the area and decrease odor, the diverticulae are filled with the same solution to facilitate identification of the extent of the diverticulae (This fluid can be seen within the left diverticulum in the image). A shallow incision is made through the skin, over the bulge of one diverticulum on the lateral aspect of the prepuce. Using blunt dissection, the diverticulae are separated from the surrounding fascia (usually not a difficult process). The diverticulae are then everted through the preputial opening and from within the operative site, a purse string suture is placed around the base of the diverticulae and closed securely. Finally, the diverticulae are resected at the preputial opening and the operative site is closed in a conventional manner.

This image shows prolapsed preputial diverticulae in a boar.

Image size 588 x 402 px  Holder of copyright of image is Dr Lawrence Evans, retired. Permission for use granted by the Department of Theriogenology. College of Veterinary Medicine · Iowa State University · Ames, Iowa 50011. Dr Swanand R Sathe. BVSc, MVSc, MS, DACT. ssathe@iastate.

Also see: Breeding soundness examination of the boar