Bagley C V, Paskett M E, Matthews N J, Stenquist N J
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1985 Apr 15;186(8):798-801.
Palpation of the testicles and epididymides was used to determine the prevalence of ram epididymitis (RE) in Utah range flocks over a 5-year period. Of 62 range flocks examined, 58 had rams with palpable lesions. A comparison was made of prevalence by right vs left testicle involvement, but no significant difference was found. Culling all rams with palpable lesions from the flock progressively reduced the annual incidence, but did not eliminate RE from any flock. Semen and specimens of reproductive tract tissue were obtained from representative flocks for bacterial culture. Brucella ovis was found commonly in range flocks, but was not isolated from RE-affected rams in virgin, ram-producing flocks. In the ram-producing flocks, a gram-negative, pleomorphic rod-type organism was found. It was concluded that RE should be considered as 2 disease entities, based on the finding of 2 causative organisms and the management systems under which those organisms are found. Brucella ovis was the major cause in persistently infected range flocks, whereas the gram-negative pleomorphic rod-type organism is the apparent cause of RE in virgin, ram-producing flocks.
在5年时间里，通过触诊睾丸和附睾来确定犹他州山区羊群中公羊附睾炎（RE）的患病率。在检查的62个山区羊群中，58个羊群的公羊有可触及的病变。对右侧和左侧睾丸受累的患病率进行了比较，但未发现显著差异。从羊群中淘汰所有有可触及病变的公羊可逐步降低年发病率，但没有任何一个羊群的RE被消除。从代表性羊群中采集精液和生殖道组织样本进行细菌培养。绵羊布鲁氏菌在山区羊群中普遍存在，但在纯种、产公羊的羊群中，未从受RE影响的公羊中分离出该菌。在产公羊的羊群中，发现了一种革兰氏阴性、多形杆状的生物体。基于发现两种致病生物体以及发现这些生物体时的管理系统，得出结论认为RE应被视为两种疾病实体。绵羊布鲁氏菌是持续感染的山区羊群中的主要病因，而革兰氏阴性多形杆状生物体显然是纯种、产公羊的羊群中RE的病因。
