Spermatic granuloma in the ram: Diagnosis by ultrasonography and semen characteristics

Ultrasonographic appearance of the testis and epididymis, and seminal chara cteristics, with regard to localization of spermatic granuloma were studied . In rams with spermatic granuloma (n = 9), diagnosed by clinical or ultras onographic examinations before histopathological confirmation, localization of each lesion was recorded. Epididymal granulomas, caput and cauda, were seen as anechoic or hyperechoic areas with a distinct margin with or withou t a hyperechoic capsule, Granulomas in the testis were microscopic and, the refore, could not be detected by ultrasonography. Enlargement in the medias tinum testis was detected in all rams when there were granulomas in the cap ut. Heterogeneous testis parenchyma invaded by numerous hyperechoic foci, r epresenting testicular degeneration, was associated with granulomas both in the epididymis and testis. Ultrasonographic appearance of the lesions did not differ with regard to season. Seminal characteristics varied between ra ms. It was concluded that ultrasonographic evaluation may give valuable inf ormation in the diagnosis of sperm granuloma in the ram.