[Chronic periorchitis and periepididymitis of cattle]

The Authors describe chronic vaginitis of bovines in intensive breeding. All of the 78 subjects examined presented vaginitis, accompanied by fibrinous hydrocele. On the spermatic cord and the tail of epididymis, initial lesions consisted of granulomas and fibrinous bridges between vaginalis propria of testicle and of epididymis. Subsequently appeared adherence and synechiae, which join the deferens and epididymis body to didymis, and thickening of albuginea. Synechiae can develop between peritesticular vaginalis propria and communis. Histopathological findings: peritoneal-like papillary structures with metaplastic mesothelial cells; diffuse lympho-plasmacellular infiltration with eosinophils and mast cells; intense capillary angiogenesis. The epididymal lesions are: diffuse mononuclear infiltration; periarteritis nodosa; papillary proliferations of endothelium; endothelial degeneration; tubular ectasia and stenosis; intraepithelial cyst. Noticeable within testis: periarteritis nodosa; fibrosis of albuginea; spermatocytes vacuolisation; multinucleate spermatids; epithelial shedding. The Authors pointed out: the serological and bacteriological testings furnished inconclusive results; only pathological finding always present is a large infestation of cremasteric muscle with Sarcocystis, to which is attributed the etiopathogenesis of flogosis, that is chronic from the beginning. The Authors propose the terminology of "Chronic peritesticular and periepididymal vaginitis" or "Chronic Periorchitis and periepididymitis".