Pathology of the Vas Deferens and Ampullitis in Male Animals

Pathology of the vas deferens and ampullitis involves inflammatory or developmental conditions affecting the male reproductive tract.

Infection and inflammation of the vas deferens is usually associated with an orchitis, epididymitis, or seminal vesiculitis.

Infection of the vas deferens apparently occurs less commonly in animals in which the ampullae or dilated proximal portions of the vas deferens are absent.

In the stallion and bull, infections with organisms such as B. abortus, Streptococci, C. pyogenes, tubercle bacillus, P. aeruginosa, and others including viruses, have been observed.

Segmental aplasia may occasionally be present in the vas deferens, usually unilaterally.

Careful rectal examination will usually reveal a thickened, firm and possibly painful enlargement when ampullae are diseased.

Semen examination may reveal leukocytes and the infective organisms.

In some cases the semen contains clots of pus and the motility of the spermatozoa is poor.

If the motility is good immediately after ejaculation, the spermatozoa often lose their motility rapidly on storage.

In cases of segmental aplasia where the missing segment is near the urethra, the ampullae may become greatly enlarged and distended with spermatozoa but no inflammatory reaction is present.

Often the seminal vesicle on the same side of the missing segment is also hypoplastic or absent.

Treatment of infected or diseased ampullae is similar to treatment for seminal vesiculitis.