Epididimite dei montoni: Nota 1. L’epididimite da Brucella ovis. IV Congresso Fe.Me.S.P.Rum

Seven rams were submitted to euthanasia and then to necropsy because affected by brucella ovis infection. While four of the rams examined presented clinical evidence fo unilateral alterations of the testicles, the other three rams revealed small lesions of the testicles and epididymis only on necroscopic examination. The lesions were encountered in the epididymis and involved the tail that appeared enlarged. The head showed no macroscopic alterations. On section, abscess-like processes containing caseous-like material was found. The testicles presented a slight to notable atrophy and fine, whitish calcific granules. The most significant histologic changes were found in the tail of the epididymis that showed fibrosis and other areas with mononuclear cells infiltration. The epithelium showed changes ranging from a simple loss of cilia to a true squamous metaplasia. Characteristic intraepithelial "lumina" were consistently found. By immunoistochemestry, brucellar antigen was shown in the epitelial ductal cells, in the giant cell and epithelioid cells.