Lesions of the testicle and epididymis of rams

Abstract

Extract

Palpation of the epididymes and testicles of rams in an attempt to detect abnormalities which may cause infertility or subnormal fertility has been widely practised in New Zealand since epididymitis in rams was described as occurring in the Poverty Bay area (Crawford, 1949). Brucella ovis was identified as a cause of epididymitis in rams and abortion in ewes (Buddle and Boyes, 1953). A vaccine has been produced against this organism and is widely used in rams in an attempt to control epididymitis in the ram and abortion in the ewe. A specific suppurative epididymitis has been described associated with a gram negative bacillus which was not identified (Dodd and Hartley, 1955). A lesion of the testicle and epididymis caused by Actinobmillus seminis has been described in Australia (Baynes and Simmons, 1960). Coqmebacterium pseudo-tuberculosis infection of the epididymis has been recorded (Simmons and Hall, 1953). Pasteurella pseudo-tuberculosis has been described as a cause of an epidemic of epididymo-orchitis (Jamieson and Soltys, 1947).