ULTRASOUND IMAGING IN DETERMINING THE PRESENCE OF TESTICULAR DEGENERATION IN 2 MALE GOATS

Physical examination and semen evaluation of two infertile goats were indicative of testicular degeneration. Ultrasonographically, the testi cular parenchyma was uncharacteristically heterogeneous with foci of m ineralization represented by dense hyperechoic areas, many of which sh owed acoustic shadowing. Histopathological examination of the testes p ost-mortem showed typical degenerative changes in the seminiferous tub ules, with some affected tubules showing evidence of mineralization. T he degree of mineralization appeared to correlate with the abundance o f hyperechoic areas. It was concluded that ultrasound imaging can be u sed as diagnostic technique to confirm the diagnosis of testicular deg eneration with mineralization.