Page 574 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

Reproductive system: 2.2 The male reproductive tr act 549

VetBooks.ir Aetiology/pathophysiology Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on observation of ventral devia-
Severe trauma during breeding results in rupture of
the suspensory ligaments. A typical ventral deviation
of the penis occurs. tion and ruling out other causes.
Management
Clinical presentation The rarity of the condition makes recommenda-
Stallions present with a history of severe trauma. tions for treatment difficult. No reports of surgi-
Significant ventral deviation of the erect penis is cal correction exist. Affected stallions may respond
apparent. to pharmacological ejaculation in order to prolong
reproductive usefulness.
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnoses include incomplete erection Prognosis
and ventral deviation due to fibrosis following penile The prognosis is guarded to poor.
haematoma.

CONDITIONS OF THE TESTES, SCROTUM AND SPERMATIC CORD

CONDITIONS CAUSING 2.153
SCROTAL ENLARGEMENT

Scrotal enlargement has a variety of causes, includ-
ing tissue oedema, trauma, orchitis, epididymitis,
dermatitis, TD, torsion, varicocoele, hydrocoele and
hernias. Differential diagnosis of these conditions
requires a thorough physical examination including
palpation and ultrasonography of the scrotal con-
tents. Rectal palpation should also be performed to
determine whether an inguinal hernia, leading to
intestinal contents within the scrotal sac, is present.

SCROTAL OEDEMA
Fig. 2.153 Swelling of the scrotal wall, which was
Definition/overview associated with trauma from a kick by a mare.
Scrotal oedema manifests as swelling of the scrotal
wall. It may be associated with trauma (Fig. 2.153), the testis and can potentially impact negatively on
infection, haemorrhage or other skin conditions spermatogenesis.
such as dermatitis or frostbite. Scrotal oedema is a
typical finding in EVA infections. Clinical presentation
The scrotum may appear to be grossly enlarged and
Aetiology/pathophysiology the skin is thickened on palpation. Semen quality is
Damage to the tissues of the scrotal skin or tunica reduced due to effects on thermoregulation, with a
leads to extravasation and accumulation of fluid reduction in sperm motility and an increase in num-
within the tissue. Uncomplicated scrotal oedema bers of morphologically abnormal sperm. Scrotal
may be seen in extremely hot weather; however, the oedema is often seen with scrotal dermatitis. Horses
cause is unknown. The insulating effects of scro- with ventral oedema from other causes (e.g. hypo-
tal oedema will impair proper thermoregulation of proteinaemia) will also have scrotal oedema.