Diseases of the Male Reproductive System
Orchitis & Epididymitis
Orchitis is a term used to describe inflammation of the
and epididymitis describes
the inflammation of the epidydimi. Both conditions can occur together or individually.
Both conditions can be caused by trauma or by infections such as equine viral arteritis.
of the testes and spermatic cord, or
Trauma or torsion causes damage to the blood vessels supplying the testes which can result in haemorrhage and inflammation of the scrotal contents. Inflammation causes edema which compresses the resulting in ischemia and hypoxic necrosis of the germinal epithelium that produces spermatozoa. Chronic inflammation may lead to the replacement of the necrotic tissue with fibrous tissue that is incapable of producing sperm, or to the formation of adhesions that block the seminiferous tubules or the epididymis. The associated with inflammation may act to inhibit spermatogenesis and may destroy the fertility or motility of mature sperm stored in the epididymis. If orchitis is associated with infection the pathogens may enter the scrotum through a wound, may ascend from the or may enter the scrotum through the testicular blood supply.
Predispositions for orchitis is young stallions as well as stallions subjected to strenuous workouts.
The clinical presentation of orchitis includes heat, pain & swelling of the testes/scrotum, swelling of the scrotum is called , visible wounds on the scrotum, stance, stiff gait, reluctance to exercise which may be most evident at the trot, reluctance to copulate and reduced fertility, viability or motility of sperm. If there is a torsion, the stallion may act colicy. Infection causes inflammation, edema and neutrophilia which leads to ischemia and phagocytosis of the infected tissue and the subsequent replacement with fibrotic tissue that is non-functional. Diagnosis of orchitis can be made through the clinical signs and symptoms, ultrasound, culture from ejaculate, physical and chemical analysis of ejaculate and serology. Treatment includes rest, the administration of NSAID’s, cold hydrotherapy to the scrotum, massage of the testes to reduce swelling and promote lymphatic drainage and systemic broad- spectrum antibiotics. If trauma or torsion, manual or surgical correction. If fibrosis of the testes, the epidydimus or the spermatic cord has occurred may be necessary to relive pain or pressure caused by excessive scarring.
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