Veterinary Andrology and Reproductive Techniques

Pathology of vas deferens and ampullitis

PATHOLOGY OF THE VAS DEFERENS AND AMPULLITIS

• Infection and inflammation of the vas deferens is usually associated with an orchitis, epididymitis, or seminal vesiculitis.
• Infection of the vas deferens apparently occurs less commonly in animals in which the ampullae or dilated proximal portions of the vas deferens are absent.
• In the stallion and bull, infections with organisms such as B.abortus, Streptococci, C.pyogenes, tubercle bacillus, P. aeurginosa, and others including viruses, have been observed.
• Segmental aplasia may occasionally be present in the vas deferens, usually unilaterally.

Careful rectal examination will usually reveal a thickened, firm and possibly painful enlargement when ampullae are diseased.

• Semen examination may reveal leukocytes and the infective organisms.
• In some cases the semen contains clots of pus and the motility of the spermatozoa is poor.
• If the motility is good immediately after ejaculation, the spermatozoa often lose their motility rapidly on storage.
• In cases of segmental aplasia where the missing segment is near the urethra, the ampullae may become greatly enlarged and distended with spermatozoa but no inflammatory reaction is present.
• Often the seminal vesicle on the same side of the missing segment is also hypoplastic or absent.
• Treatment of infected or diseased ampullae is similar to treatment for seminal vesiculitis.

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