Epididymitis Caused by Brucella ovis in a Southern Ontario Sheep Flock.
Epididymitis was diagnosed in three rams in a commercial sheep flock in southern Ontario. The affected rams had palpably enlarged epididymides and two rams had semen which contained inflammatory cells and was of poor quality. Serum compliment fixation titers for Brucella ovis were 1:20, 1:80 and 1:90. Five other rams in the flock were clinically normal and without titers. Two of the affected rams had lesions similar to those produced by experimental infection with B. ovis. The infection in the rams had no apparent affect on ewe performance. The source of the infection remains unknown, but the rams were purchased from a flock which had imported ewes from the western U.S.A.
Clinical Manifestations of Brucellosis in Domestic Animals and Humans
Brucellosis in domestic animals is a chronic disease that is characterized mainly by reproductive signs in cattle, buffaloes, pigs, sheep, goats and dogs. In females the disease is characterized by abortion, placenta retention, vaginal secretions, low fertility rate and also embryonic and neonatal death. In males, regular findings include epididymitis, orchitis, uni- or bilateral testicular atrophy, sperm abnormalities and infertility. Lymphadenopathy, hepatopathy, splenomegaly, uveitis and discospondylitis may also be observed in dogs. In horses, the typical clinical sign is characterized by a granulomatous supraspinous or supra-atlantal bursa lesion. Infected animals can also be asymptomatic. Infected symptomatic or asymptomatic animals represent an important source of infection to other animals and humans. Brucellosis in humans can cause undulant fever, malaise, insomnia, anorexia, headache, arthralgia, constipation, sexual impotence, nervousness and depression. For all species the presentation of clinical signs are only suggestive of disease infection and thus must be differentiated from other diseases.
Serological comparison between Histophilus ovis, Actinobacillus seminis and Brucella ovis.
The serological relationships between 4 strains of Histophilus ovis, the neotype strain of Actinobacillus seminis and Brucella ovis were examined using a cross-absorption complement-fixation technique. It was found that the 4 strains of H. ovis were serologically homologous and that an incomplete relationship existed between these organisms and A. seminis. Anteriserums prepared against one strain of H. ovis and the strain of A. seminis gave a weak, apparently non-specific cross-reaction with Br. ovis antigen. The practical significance of these results is discussed.