A study on the semen obtained from breeding goats suffering from mild to se
vere chronic besnoitiosis revealed marked changes in semen volume, colour,
density, concentration, mass and individual motility and percentage live. T
here were also many neutrophils and spermatozoa with primary and secondary
defects, including missing tails and deformed heads and tails. The observed
changes were considered to be severe enough to account for the infertility
observed in the flock Sections of testes obtained for histopathology were
characterised by massive blockage of the pampiniform plexus, degeneration o
f the germinal epithelium, tubular necrosis with an inflammatory infiltrate
and, in some cases, accumulation of haemosiderin-like material in the tuni
ca vaginalis.