Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bull with infertility and scrotal swelling from Eperythrozoon
By Montes, A J et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1994·Department of Large Animal Surgery and Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Infertility associated with Eperythrozoon wenyonii infection in a bull.
- Species:
- cattle
Plain-English summary
A 16-month-old Charolais bull was brought in with swelling in his scrotum and hind legs, along with fever, rapid breathing, and lack of appetite. Blood tests showed anemia and the presence of a bacteria called Eperythrozoon wenyonii. After starting treatment with oxytetracycline, the bull's symptoms improved, and the bacteria were no longer found in his blood after three days. Six months later, he was back to normal, with healthy semen quality.
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Abstract
A 16-month-old Charolais bull was examined because of acute onset of scrotal and hind limb edema, fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, anorexia, and lethargy. Scrotal circumference on initial examination was 48 cm. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included microcytic, normochromic anemia and numerous Eperythrozoon organisms in blood smears. Results of immunohistochemical staining of a skin biopsy specimen suggested that the edema was the result of an Arthus-type reaction. Semen quality deteriorated rapidly, and the bull was aspermic within 7 days. The bull was treated with oxytetracycline, and the anemia and edema gradually subsided. Eperythrozoon organisms were not detected in blood smears after 3 days. Six months after initial examination, results of physical examination and semen evaluation were normal. We hypothesize that scrotal edema caused failure of testicular thermoregulation, resulting in transient production of abnormal sperm and infertility.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8144388/