A Review of the Applications of Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) in Male Dogs

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Soroush Entezari 1
pezhman mirshokraei 2
Vahid Hamedianasl 3
1 Graduated DVM from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
2 Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3 PhD student in Veterinary Physiology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
10.22034/ijvcs.2026.15191.1112
Abstract
Accurate evaluation of male canine fertility is essential for determining breeding soundness, selecting stud dogs, diagnosing reproductive disorders, and planning artificial insemination. Despite its simplicity and widespread use, microscopic evaluation of sperm motility is subject to technician subjectivity, microscope optical quality, and sample-handling conditions, offering limited capacity to quantitatively describe the velocity and trajectory patterns of individual spermatozoa.
Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) systems identify sperm heads across sequential video frames and reconstruct their tracks, providing quantitative measurements of parameters such as total and progressive motility, VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN, STR, ALH, and BCF.
This review examines the operational principles of CASA, the technical and biological variables affecting its output, its clinical and research applications, and its prognostic value in canine fertility assessment. Evidence indicates that, following species-specific validation and rigorous standardization of variables—including temperature, extender formulation, sperm concentration, counting chamber design and depth, and frame capture rate—CASA serves as a rapid, objective, and reproducible tool for the quantitative analysis of sperm kinetics.
CASA is extensively applied in comparing semen extenders, monitoring chilling and cryopreservation protocols, analyzing sperm kinematic subpopulations, evaluating epididymal spermatozoa, assessing nutritional interventions and toxicological effects, and integrating sperm kinetic data with testicular imaging. However, although specific CASA parameters differ between fertile and subfertile stud dogs, the system does not directly measure fertilizing capacity. Consequently, CASA-derived kinematic metrics must be interpreted in conjunction with a complete breeding history, genital tract examination, total motile sperm count, sperm morphology, membrane and acrosome integrity, and sperm DNA integrity.
Keywords
Male dog
Fertility
Sperm
Computer-assisted sperm analysis
Artificial insemination
Sperm cryopreservation
Subjects
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Iranian Journal of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Volume 20, Issue 1 - Serial Number 34
Spring &Summer 2026
September 2026
Pages 3-21