Andrological, pathologic, morphometric, and ultrasonographic findings in rams experimentally infected with Brucella ovis

Brucella ovis is considered the most important infectious cause of reproductive disorders in sheep. The disease is characterized by epididymitis, subfertility and infertility in rams. B. ovis occasionally results in abortion in ewes, as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate kinetic changes in the reproductive organs of rams experimentally infected with B. ovis. Nine rams were experimentally inoculated intrapreputially with 2 mL of a suspension containing 1.2 × 109 CFU (colony-forming units)/mL of B. ovis (strain ATCC25840). In addition, 50 L of a suspension containing 1.2 × 1010 CFU/mL of the same B. ovis strain was inoculated into each conjunctival sac, resulting in 3.6 × 109 CFU total per ram. Six of nine infected rams had developed clinical changes in the tail of the epididymis at 30 days post-infection (dpi), but these changes regressed in 50% of these rams. Ultrasound demonstrated an increase in the area of the tail of the epididymis (P < 0.001), reduction in the area of the testes (P < 0.001), and an increased length and width of the seminal vesicles (P < 0.001) during the course of infection. A sperm granuloma was diagnosed on the basis of ultrasonography findings. Microscopically, there was epididymitis, testicular degeneration, and seminal vesiculitis. Inflammatory cells were detected in the semen even before the development of epididymitis. Moreover, inflammatory cells were also found in the semen of asymptomatic rams, indicating that the presence of leukocytes in the ejaculate is a valuable method for screening potential carriers of infections in the genital tract