Testicular Diseases
Testicular Infection
Cause: Concurrent infection of the testes and epididymus (orchiepididymitis) may occur as a result of microorganisms including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, coliforms, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, or Brucella canis. Localized wounds or spread of infectious organisms from distant sites in the body via the circulatory or lymphatic systems may lead to testicular infection. Additionally, infections of the urinary tract system or of the prostate gland may spread to the testes/epididymus through the ductus deferens.
Symptoms: Infections associated with orchiepididymitis present with scrotal swelling, testicular enlargement, pain, and fever.
Diagnosis: Ultrasound imaging of the testes will confirm inflammation associated with infection and rule out other potential causes for testicular swelling. Bacterial culture of the semen in Amies medium allows for isolation of Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma, and aerobic bacteria. Ultrasound imaging indicating that inflammation is localized primarily to the epididymides is highly suspicious of Brucella canis infection. Accordingly, serological testing for Brucella canis should be performed.
Treatment and Prognosis: Treatment of testicular infections includes administration of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Castration is recommended in males that are not intended to be used for breeding or in those diagnosed with Brucella canis (since treatment of the latter fails to completely eradicate infection and only reduces infection to a "carrier state"). In those males whose owners wish to salvage reproductive function, additional treatment with cool compresses may help in reducing heat in the scrotum associated with inflammation, and may assist in reducing permanent detrimental effects on spermatogenesis. Chronic or treatment-resistant infections, however, typically result in sterility due to destruction of the spermatogenetic tissue by the inflammatory process. In those dogs in which infection is eradicated by treatment, permanent side effects on spermatogenesis have been observed, therefore, prognosis in regard to fertility is guarded.
Testicular Infection
Cause: Concurrent infection of the testes and epididymus (orchiepididymitis) may occur as a result of microorganisms including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, coliforms, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, or Brucella canis. Localized wounds or spread of infectious organisms from distant sites in the body via the circulatory or lymphatic systems may lead to testicular infection. Additionally, infections of the urinary tract system or of the prostate gland may spread to the testes/epididymus through the ductus deferens.
Symptoms: Infections associated with orchiepididymitis present with scrotal swelling, testicular enlargement, pain, and fever.
Diagnosis: Ultrasound imaging of the testes will confirm inflammation associated with infection and rule out other potential causes for testicular swelling. Bacterial culture of the semen in Amies medium allows for isolation of Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma, and aerobic bacteria. Ultrasound imaging indicating that inflammation is localized primarily to the epididymides is highly suspicious of Brucella canis infection. Accordingly, serological testing for Brucella canis should be performed.
Treatment and Prognosis: Treatment of testicular infections includes administration of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Castration is recommended in males that are not intended to be used for breeding or in those diagnosed with Brucella canis (since treatment of the latter fails to completely eradicate infection and only reduces infection to a "carrier state"). In those males whose owners wish to salvage reproductive function, additional treatment with cool compresses may help in reducing heat in the scrotum associated with inflammation, and may assist in reducing permanent detrimental effects on spermatogenesis. Chronic or treatment-resistant infections, however, typically result in sterility due to destruction of the spermatogenetic tissue by the inflammatory process. In those dogs in which infection is eradicated by treatment, permanent side effects on spermatogenesis have been observed, therefore, prognosis in regard to fertility is guarded.