Serology and semen culture for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in chronically infected rams

The serological response to Brucella ovis and the shedding of the organism in semen was followed for a period of 13-14 months in 42 naturally infected rams. Most rams remained chronically infected and excreted the organism in their semen throughout the investigation. B. ovis was isolated from 87.9% of the semen samples from the infected rams. The most common sites from which B. ovis could be isolated at necropsy were the epididymides and accessory sexual glands. In one ram the organism was isolated from lung, spleen, kidney and iliac lymph nodes. Three rams ceased to shed B. ovis in their semen during the course of the investigation. Seventy-five (11%) of 686 sera from infected rams were negative in the complement fixation test (CFT) although 76% and 77% of CFT-negative sera were positive in the gel diffusion precipitin test (GDT) and enzyme labelled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. The high incidence of CFT-negative infected rams was due to the selection for the investigation of many rams with histories of negative or vacillating CFT titres. Sera from five rams which never shed B. ovis in their semen reacted erratically in the three serological tests. The five rams were from heavily infected flocks and were kept in contact with infected rams throughout the investigation.     

Persistence, serodiagnosis and effects on semen characteristics of artificial Brucella ovis infection in red deer stags

AIMS: To investigate the persistence of infection and serum antibody titres after infection of red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags with Brucella ovis, and compare these with those of rams. To assess the effects of recent and chronic infection on semen characteristics of stags. METHODS: Fourteen stags and eight rams were artificially infected with B. ovis by intravenous inoculation. Semen and blood samples were collected at approximately monthly intervals for 649 days. Semen samples were subjected to bacterial culture, and sera were tested for B. ovis antibodies using a complement fixation test (CFT) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At the end of the study, animals were slaughtered and reproductive organs subjected to bacterial culture. During the first and second breeding seasons, three and five semen samples, respectively, were evaluated from each stag for sperm motility and morphology. RESULTS: Twelve of 14 (86%) stags and 6/8 (75%) rams developed a patent B. ovis infection and shed the organism in semen. All six infected rams continued to shed B. ovis in semen throughout the 649-day study period, and at slaughter B. ovis was isolated from the reproductive tract and urinary bladder. In contrast, 10/12 (83%) infected stags stopped shedding B. ovis in semen 103-342 days after inoculation, and the organism could not be isolated from their reproductive tracts at slaughter. The remaining two infected stags shed B. ovis in semen throughout the study period and the organism was isolated from their reproductive tracts at slaughter. All inoculated animals initially developed serum antibody titres detectable using the B. ovis CFT and ELISA. For infected stags, the diagnostic sensitivity of these tests was 100% for the first 166 days, but decreased to 50-90% after this. The diagnostic sensitivity for the infected rams was 100% throughout the study period. Infection in stags resulted in variable effects on semen characteristics. Eight of 12 (67%) infected stags had a mean sperm motility of < 50%, and < 60% mean normal sperm in the first year of infection. Seven of these stags had resolved the infection by the following breeding season, and there was a significant improvement in sperm motility and morphology. CONCLUSIONS: Stags are as susceptible as rams to experimental B. ovis infection. However, the majority of infected stags resolved the infection within a year, whereas rams remained infected for at least 649 days (22 months). Serology, using CFT and ELISA, was effective at detecting infection during the first 166 days in both species, but after this time was less effective at detecting infection in stags than in rams. Infection with B. ovis had variable but generally deleterious effects on the semen characteristics of stags, which resolved following resolution of the infection. Differences in the characteristics of the disease in stags compared with rams mean that different control methods are warranted for the two species. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Most stags infected with B. ovis are likely to resolve the infection within a year, and semen characteristics return to levels acceptable for breeding. Serology is useful for detection of infection in the early stages of the disease, but once disease has been present in the herd for some time false-negative reactions are likely to occur in individual stags.     

The Complement Fixation Test for Brucella Ovis

Abstract

Sir:- A project to investigate the efficacy of the complement fixation test (CFT) for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in rams has recently been completed. The investigation was undertaken by field and laboratory staff of the Division of Animal Health and several practitioners. The results of CFT's done with 3 antigens by waim and cold fixation methods (WCFT and CCFT) were correlated with results of cultures done of semen from the same rams. It is our aim to publish a full report in this Journal at a later date. In view of the widespread interest in the subject some of the important findings are summarised below:

• ? Semen and blood samples were collected from 541 rams in 40 flocks.

• ? The type of antigen which has been used for a number of years in New Zealand was unsatisfactory. The CCFT using this antigen had a sensitivity of only 85% in 124 rams which gave positive semen cultures. These rams came from 16 infected flocks.

• ? The CCFT using the best of the 3 antigens proved to be a remarkably reliable test. In the same group of infected animals mentioned above, 120 of the 124 infected rams had positive or suspicious CFT's. The sensitivity of the test was therefore 97%. The specificity was > 99% in 144 rams in 16 uninfected flocks. Only 1 suspicious titre was found in the uninfected group.

• ? In 4 flocks in which B. ovis was never isolated, 18 of 58 sera gave positive or suspicious reactions. Recognition of this type of 'problem flock' is therefore important. A history and clinical picture which does not agree with serological results should always be thoroughly investigated. Semen should be collected from an appropriate number of cases for bacteriological examination. It is suspected that at least some ‘problem flocks’ may contain unreported vaccinated animals. Further investigation of ‘problem flocks’ will be an aim of the Animal Health Division in the future.

     

The complement fixation test for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in rams

Complement fixation tests using three B. ovis antigen preparations in warm fixation tests (WCFT) and cold fixation (CCFT) tests were done on 541 ram sera. Semen samples from the same rams were examined culturally to identify B. ovis excretors. The CCFT, using an antigen prepared by heat extraction of B.ovis cells, had a sensitivity of 97% in 124 rams which were shedding B.ovis. The specificity was 99% in 144 rams from non-infected flocks. Seventy-seven per cent of 156 rams which reacted to this test were shedding B. ovis in their semen. Tests with other antigens were inferior in sensitivity and/or specificity. The WCFT gave lower titres than CCFT. Vaccination caused large numbers of false positive reactions in 4 flocks.     

Immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin-containing cells in the reproductive tracts of rams naturally infected with Brucella ovis

SUMMARY Thirteen rams with serological evidence of Brucella ovls exposure (CFT of 1:8 or greater), but with no or only mild epididymitis, were selected from a ram flock. Serum, semen, preputial washings and fluids from the accessory sex glands (ASGF) and testis and epididymis (TEF) were examined and immunoglobulin (lg) concentrations estimated. Genital tissues were examined histologically and the percentages of class specific immunoglobulin containing cells (ICC) determined. Eleven of these rams had histological evidence of active inflammation consistent with B. ovis infection; the organisam was cultured from the semen of 7. IgA concentration was high in semen (mean ± standard deviation of 5.03 ± 1.78 mg/ml) and ASGF (9.18 ± 7.28 mg/ml). These levels were much higher than those recorded in noninfected rams. IgA concentration was low in serum (0.78 ± 0.55 mg/ml) and TEF (0.59 ± 0.78 mg/ml). The concentrations of IgG¹, IgG², and IgM were low in all genital fluids sampled and not significantly different from those recorded in noninfected rams. This indicated that infection with B. ovis results in a pronounced IgA response in secretions, mostly from the accessory sex glands. Examinations of ICC, however, revealed that the plasma cell infiltrates of the epididymis, vas deferens, ampulla and seminal vesicle were predominantly IgG-containing (92.4, 97.2, 79.4 and 91.9% respectively). Fewer IgM-containing cells were scattered throughout these tissues, constituting 3.9, 6.3, 0.3 and 6.5% of all ICC, respectively. IgA-containing cells were most frequently seen in the ampulla (9.6% of ICC) where they were located directly beneath the epithelium, suggesting the ampulla as the most prominant location for the local production of IgA. These results indicate that although the tissue ICC response was predominantly IgG, IgA was selectively transferred into secretions with the exclusion of most IgG and IgM. ICC percentages in bulbourethral and prostate glands, and beneath pelvic urethral and preputial epithelia, were similar to those found in noninfected rams.     

Epidemiological studies on ovine brucellosis in selected ram flocks

SUMMARY The epidemiology of ovine brucellosis was investigated in 6 ram flocks in which anomalous reactions to the complement fixation test was recorded. It was shown that rams can become infected as young as 4 months of age. Naturally infected animals have an epididymitis and excrete Brucella ovis in their semen or they may only show a serological response for a short time then recover. The base line titres of chronically infected animals stay relatively constant. The importance of abortive infection and possible reinfection is discussed.     

An improved immunoblotting technique for the serodiagnosis of Brucella ovis infections

Two antigen preparations, the routinely used Brucella ovis sodium dodecylsulfate-mercapto ethanol extract and a B. ovis Triton X-114-derived detergent-rich phase, were compared under standard conditions for their use in electrophoretic immunoblotting for confirmafory, serological testing for B. ovis infections, by using 88 sera from ram flocks with a history of freedom from B. ovis infections, 80 sera from chronically infected rams, which were shedding B. ovis in their semen at the time of sampling, and 104 sera from a naturally infected ram flock. Blots with the detergent-rich phase as antigen gave better correlation with the serological results from naturally infected rams, exhibited no non-specific staining with sera from the negative group, gave clearer visualisation of specific bands for positive sera, and were equally sensitive when compared to the standard antigen for sera from chronically infected rams.     

A comparison of three serological tests for the diagnosis of B. ovis infection in rams

The complement fixation test (CFT), the enzyme labelled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the gel diffusion precipitin test (GD) were compared, for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in rams. The sensitivities of the tests in 109 rams which were shedding B. ovis in their semen were: CFT 96.3%; ELISA 97.2%; GD 91.7%. The specificities of the tests in 141 rams from non-infected flocks were: CFI 99.3%; ELISA 98.6%; GD 100%. Predictive values of the three tests were measured in 285 rams from infected flocks. Thirty-eight percent of these rams were shedding B. ovis in their semen. Predictive values of positive tests were: CFT 75.5%; ELISA 66.7%; GD 72.5%. Predictive values of negative tests were: CFI 97.1%; ELISA 97.6%; GD 93.8%.     

EVALUATION OF PROCEDURES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF BRUCELLA OVIS INFECTION IN RAMS

Procedures for the diagnosis of Br. ovis infection in rams were evaluated by examining 10 rams artificially infected by preputial inoculation. Observations were undertaken at weekly intervals for 1 year to follow changes in clinical, bacteriological and serological findings. Clinical lesions were detected in 1 ram 3 weeks after inoculation and in all rams by 8 weeks; lesions were undetectable in 3 rams at the completion of the trial. The presence of inflammatory cells in semen samples was the earliest indication of infection being demonstrated in 2 rams at 2 weeks and in all rams by 8 weeks; subsequently 86% of samples were positive. Br. ovis was detected in semen smears from 3 rams at 4 weeks but only once in all rams (at 27 weeks); overall 52% of semen smears were positive from 4 weeks onwards. Br. ovis was cultured from semen of 5 rams after 4 weeks and from all rams at 5 weeks; thereafter 97% of samples were positive. All rams developed significant titres to the CFT between 2 and 9 weeks; thereafter the CFT was a reliable indication of infection in 6 rams, highly suggestive in 3 and unreliable in one. By 8–10 weeks all rams developed significant titres to the IHA which were then maintained in all rams for the remainder of the trial.     

The response of vaccinated rams to experimental challenge using Brucella ovis

One hundred and thirty eight rams were allocated to four experimental groups. An inactivated Br. ovis vaccine was administered either once by the intraperitoneal route (1 i/p), twice by the intraperitoneal route (2 i/p), or twice by the subcutaneous route (2 s/c), and the last group was left unvaccinated. They were then challenged by the intravenous inoculation of between 123 and 1.23 × 10⁸ live Br. ovis bacteria. The number of rams that succumbed to infection within the four groups was 4/35 (11%) for the 2 s/c, 7/33 (21%) for the 2 i/p, 9/35 (26%) for the 1 i/p and 18/35 (51%) for the unvaccinated rams. Vaccination reduced the number of rams that succumbed to experimental challenge and although there were differences between the vaccinated groups, these were not statistically significant.

Following challenge, unvaccinated rams were the first to excrete Br. ovis in their semen; three weeks following inoculation. Next, those vaccinated by either one or two doses by the intraperitoneal technique began to excrete the organism (five weeks) and then finally those rams vaccinated twice by the subcutaneous route (seven weeks).     

LESIONS CAUSED BY CORYNEBACTERIUM PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS IN THE SCROTUM OF RAMS

SUMMARY Palpable lesions within the scrotum but not associated with the testis or epididymis were detected in 20 of 200 merino rams in 3 flocks during routine veterinary examination. In 13 of 15 rams further examined Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was isolated from the lesions, which were typical CLA type abscesses. C. pseudotuberculosis was not shed in semen, and semen quality was normal in all affected rams.     

Ovine brucellosis in alberta

Two parallel surveys of rams from Alberta sheep flocks were conducted to determine the presence of infection with Brucella ovis. In a retrospective study over a period of 24 months, using complement fixation test, 12 flocks out of 142 tested were considered infected. In another 17-month survey of slaughter rams by serology and culture methods 11 flocks out of 124 were found to be infected. The overall prevalence of ovine brucellosis was 8.6% of the flocks tested which represented 12.5% of the estimated sheep flocks in Alberta. Up to 67% of rams in infected flocks reacted to complement fixation test.

The complement fixation test was evaluated for its efficiency in the diagnosis of ovine brucellosis and compared with a limited number of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results and clinical criteria. The complement fixation test as well as ELISA identified all culture positive rams. Both serological tests appeared satisfactory for the diagnosis of B. ovis epididymitis when the results could be interpreted in the light of flock history and clinical findings.

     

Pathology of Brucella ovis infection in red deer stags (Cervus elaphus)

Abstract

AIM: To describe the pathology of the reproductive tract of red deer stags with active Brucella ovis infection and in stags in which B. ovis infection had resolved.

METHODS: Twenty-three red deer stags of varying history were slaughtered and their epididymides and accessory sex glands examined grossly and by histopathology. At the time of slaughter five of the stags had an active B. ovis infection of 24–55 days duration following exposure to infected rams, 10 stags had been experimentally infected with B. ovis by intravenous inoculation 649 days previously and had developed an active infection but the bacterial infection had resolved at least 308 days prior to slaughter, and eight stags had not been exposed to B. ovis at any time.

RESULTS: Of the five stags with an active infection, one had gross enlargement of the epididymides that could be detected by scrotal palpation. Histological lesions in all five stags included mild to severe, predominantly non-suppurative epididymitis, vesiculitis, prostatitis and ampullitis, with neutrophil exudation in associated glandular ducts. Additional lesions in the epididymides were spermatic granulomas and epithelial hyperplasia with intra-epithelial cyst formation. Of the 10 stags in which the bacterial infection had resolved, two had gross enlargement of the epididymides. The histological lesions were similar to those in stags with active infection but were generally milder, with increased periductal scar tissue in the epididymides. The lesions seen in stags resembled those seen in rams with B. ovis infection but they were usually less florid and had fewer plasma cells. No gross abnormalities or histopathological lesions were detected in the non-infected stags.

CONCLUSIONS: Only a small percentage of red deer stags infected with B. ovis develop lesions of epididymitis that can be detected by scrotal palpation. Gross and histological lesions of the genital tract of stags associated with B. ovis infection are similar to the lesions seen in rams. Lesions in stags persist for >300 days after the bacterial infection has resolved.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Brucella ovis infection should be considered when there are gross lesions of epididymitis or histological evidence of inflammation in the epididymides or accessory sex glands of red deer stags. Retrospective diagnosis of B. ovis in stags could be achieved by histological examination of the reproductive organs.     

Assessment of milk ring test and some serological tests in the detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella melitensis</Emphasis> in Syrian female sheep

Brucella melitensis infection prevalence among Syrian female sheep, to evaluate a number of serological tests and to discuss some epidemiological aspects of brucellosis, was studied. A total of 2,580 unvaccinated Syrian female sheep sera samples were tested for B. melitensis antibodies detection using four serological methods: the Rose Bengal test (RBT), the serum agglutination test (SAT), the complement fixation test (CFT) and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). In addition, 2,375 milk samples were collected, then milk ring test (MRT) and bacterial isolation test were employed to evaluate the natural organism shedding. The samples were considered positive in 66%, 64%, and 60% when we employed the RBT, SAT, and iELISA tests, respectively. Whereas, the CFT test revealed the smallest number of positive samples. By using the MRT, the total prevalence of brucellosis was nearly 38% of samples. A large variation was observed concerning the studied areas, ranging from 24% in Tartous to 44% in both Damascus and Damascus rural areas. Brucella was isolated from only 677 samples out of the 2,375 female sheep milk samples.     

Evaluation of electrophoretic immunoblotting for Brucella ovis infection in deer using ram and deer serum

AIMS: Recently the first case of natural infection of deer with Brucella ovis was discovered. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an electrophoretic immunoblotting method for testing deer serum for specific B. ovis antibodies. METHODS: An existing immunoblotting method for sheep serum was altered by using a recombinant protein G-alkaline phosphatase conjugate and Tris-buffered saline containing 3% non-fat dry milk powder for the blocking step and the serum and conjugate dilutions. The method was evaluated using 106 sheep sera from B. ovis - negative, accredited flocks, 69 sera from chronically infected rams shedding B. ovis in their semen, 110 sera from a B. ovis-infected flock, 18 sera from stags from which B. ovis was isolated, and 48 sera from deer flocks free from B. ovis infections. The immunoblotting method was applied to another 85 deer sera. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the new immunoblotting method was 98.6% for sheep and 94.4% for deer, and the specificity 99.1% for sheep and 100% for deer. Sixty-nine out of 97 deer sera, originating from the property from which the first B. ovis deer case had been reported, tested positive or suspicious in the complement fixation test. Of these, 53 sera exhibited staining patterns in blots typical for B. ovis infections and also one serum which was negative in the CFT. Only six out of 1498 deer sera. from throughout New Zealand had positive or suspicious reactions in the B. ovis complement fixation test. Of these, one exhibited a staining pattern in the blot suggestive of a B. ovis infection, while four showed patterns of suspicious reactions. CONCLUSION: The new immunoblotting technique is useful as a confirmatory serological test method for B. ovis infections in deer.     

Antimicrobial therapy for rams with Brucella ovis infection of the urogenital tract.

Rams shedding Brucella ovis in semen but without palpable abnormalities of the epididymides were treated with long-acting oxytetracycline for 15 days and dihydrostreptomycin for 7 days (n = 9) or conventional oxytetracycline and dihydrostreptomycin (n = 9) for 7 days. Nine rams were not treated. More treated rams were considered to have satisfactory breeding soundness examination results at posttreatment weeks 3, 7, 12, and 19. Nontreated rams continued to shed B ovis in semen. After treatment, B ovis was not recovered from 78% of rams given long-acting oxytetracycline and dihydrostreptomycin or from 89% of rams given conventional oxytetracycline and dihydrostreptomycin. At week 21, all rams were euthanatized, and specimens of the testes and epididymides were bacteriologically cultured for B ovis. Brucella ovis was not recovered from the testes of rams or from the epididymides from rams not shedding the organism in the semen. In one treated ram, B ovis was recovered from the semen but not from other tissues. All rams remained ELISA-positive, with the exception of 2 treated rams that ceased shedding B ovis in semen immediately after treatment was started; both these rams became ELISA-negative on the last examination at week 19.     

Discrimination between sheep antibodies to Brucella melitensis and to Brucella ovis

When preparations containing smooth Brucella abortus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used as antigens in an ELISA, strong positive reactions were obtained with sera from sheep infected with Brucella melitensis or with Brucella ovis. Oxidation of the LPS with sodium metaperiodate greatly reduced the extent of the cross-reactions with antisera to B. ovis, with little effect on the reactions with antisera to smooth B. melitensis. Periodate oxidation of hot saline extract (HSX) antigen of B. ovis markedly reduced its reactivity in ELISA with anti-B. ovis sera and eliminated cross-reactivity with anti-B. melitensis sera. The reactivity of HSX was maintained after treatment with proteinase K.A simple ELISA system, in which replicate samples from a single serum dilution were tested in parallel against both B. ovis HSX antigen and periodate-oxidised smooth phase B. abortus LPS, was evaluated. It was found to discriminate well between antibodies induced by vaccination or virulent infection with B. melitensis strains and those induced by infection with B. ovis.     

An evaluation of the anamnestic test for brucellosis in cattle of the northern pastoral area

SUMMARY An investigation of the anamnestic test for brucellosis using Brucella abortus 45/20 vaccine was carried out in 3 groups of weaner cattle on 2 farms in western Queensland. Each group originally consisted of about 500 cattle. They were bled before and at 6 or 10 weeks after vaccination and again in the following year. The serums were tested by the complement fixation (CFT), Rose Bengal (RBT) and indirect haemolysis tests (IHLT). Most of the cattle reacting to one or more of the tests were killed and selected tissues were subjected to bacteriological examination for B. abortus. B. abortus was isolated from 19 of 30 (63%) pre-vaccinal reactors, 23 (24%) of 96 cattle reacting at 6 or 10 weeks after vaccination (the anamnestic test) and 1 (2%) of 50 cattle reacting one year after vaccination. The reactor found to be infected the year after vaccination had high serological titres in each of the 3 serological tests: RBT of 3, CFT of 128 and IHLT of 256. A subsequent test showed the group to be brucellosis-free. The CFT was the most efficient test. In the pre-vaccination tests 17 of 19 infected animals were positive in the CFT compared with 11 positive in the IHLT and 17 in the RBT. In post vaccination tests 22 of 23 infected animals were positive in the CFT compared with 18 in the IHLT and 19 in the RBT. At the pre-vaccinal and anamnestic tests (6 or 10 weeks after vaccination) 19 of 57 (33%) cattle with CF titre of 4 or 8 yielded B. abortus on culture compared with none of 26 cattle with similar titres in the year after vaccination. The interpretation of CF titres in cattle following 45/20 vaccination needs to be re-examined.     

Comparison of the Q-fever complement fixation test and two commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of serum antibodies against Coxiella burnetii (Q-fever) in ruminants: Recommendations for use of serological tests on imported animals in New Zealand

Abstract

AIM: To make valid recommendations on the use of serological test methods for the detection of serum antibodies in ruminants against Coxiella burnetii (Q-fever), by comparing the performance of the complement fixation test (CFT) and two ELISA, and by identifying reasons for discrepancies between the test methods.

METHODS: A total of 73 serum samples from infected cattle, 69 from infected goats, and 100 samples from non-infected cattle and 57 samples from non-infected sheep, as well as 95 samples from infected cattle herds (mix of seropositive and seronegative samples), were tested using the CFT, the IDEXX ELISA (I-ELISA) and the Pourquier ELISA (P-ELISA). A mixed panel of 12 serum samples from sheep from inter-laboratory proficiency testing (proficiency panel) was also tested using the CFT and both ELISA, and further investigated using IgG- and IgM-specific ELISA.

RESULTS: Generally, the two commercial ELISA were more sensitive than the CFT for the detection of infected ruminants. Good agreement between ELISA for positive and negative results was found for samples from the infected herd, while results for the positive panels varied between the two ELISA. For the total of the positive serum panels, the I-ELISA detected 95% of samples as positive or suspicious, while the P-ELISA detected only 81%. In the P-ELISA, more samples were considered suspicious (18%) than in the I-ELISA (14%). All sera from noninfected sheep and cattle tested negative in the serological test methods employed, except for one positive sample from a sheep in the P-ELISA. Further investigation revealed that a CFT-positive but ELISA-negative result was due to high IgM and low IgG reactivity.

CONCLUSIONS: The two commercial ELISA were more sensitive than the CFT in all panels from infected ruminants. However, they could only detect IgG. The I-ELISA should be the serological test method of choice for cattle, sheep and goats for import testing of animals into New Zealand because it was more sensitive than the P-ELISA and was equally specific to the PELISA and the CFT. For other animal species, such as deer and camelids, the CFT should still be used since none of the ELISA has been evaluated for these species. This study has shown that the two commercial ELISA will detect the majority of infected ruminants but may miss animals that have not developed an IgG response.     

TESTICULAR PATHOLOGY OF MERINO RAMS

SUMMARY The scrotal contents of 2,281 Merino rams of wide age range examined at 3 abattoirs in Perth, Western Australia, showed a 40% prevalence of rams with 1 or more gross lesions. The percentage prevalence of gross lesions found on autopsy were: adhesions 21, testicular atrophy/hypoplasia 14, testicular calcification 13, congenital cyst of the epididymis 6, cryptorchidism 4, chronic epididymitis/scrotal abscesses 2, varicocoele 2, testicular aplasia1, seminoma1. The prevalence of lesions increased with age of rams. Testicular atrophy was often present when varicocoele, chronic epididymitis and scrotal abscess affected that side of the scrotal sac. Corynebacterium spp was the most frequent isolate from chronic epididymitis. Actinobacillus seminis was isolated once and Brucella ovis was not isolated. About 20% of the rams showed lesions compatible with a diagnosis of reproductive unsoundness. A large proportion of lesions were revealed only after removal of the scrotum and most of these did not appear to affect normal spermatogenesis except for an estimated 9% of rams, which showed mild atrophy/hypoplasia. Samples of these testes showed mild to moderate changes in spermatogenesis on histopathology. It was postulated that the latter group of rams might represent those ill-defined clinical cases which show equivocal results on appraisal of semen samples despite the presence of palpably normal testes.