title: Clinical and pathological changes in rams experimentally infected with Actinobacillus seminis and Histophilus somni.
abstract: Infectious epididymitis is considered a major cause of economic losses for the sheep industry worldwide. This study aimed to investigate clinical and pathological changes associated with experimental infections with A. seminis and H. somni in rams. Twenty rams of age 18 to 24 months were infected by intraepididymal inoculation of A. seminis (n = 10) and H. somni (n = 10). Rams were weekly examined and biological samples were collected during six weeks. All rams inoculated with A. seminis and 80% inoculated with H. somni became infected. The recovery of bacteria was possible in semen and urine samples and tissues in both experimental groups. Clinically, there were a decrease in testicular consistency and an increase in measures of the left epididymis tails in both experimental groups. The main gross changes were observed in the reproductive tract. Microscopically, the main lesions were inflammatory changes in the genitourinary tract and testicular degeneration. A. seminis and H. somni were able to colonize several organs of the genitourinary tract in rams, being indistinguishable by clinical exam, necropsy or histopathology. For differential diagnosis, it is important to use diagnostic techniques for direct confirmation of the etiologic agent.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valéria S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Moustacas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Teane M A
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Custódio A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Carvalho Júnior
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiane A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Paixão
mesh_terms: D044133:Actinobacillus seminis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004823:Epididymitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015661:Pasteurellaceae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology; D012756:Sheep; D013737:Testis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology