Some aspects of epididymitis of rams in New Zealand

Abstract Extract In new Zealand, several different organisms have been isolated from the epididymides or testicles of rams with epididymitis. The classification and the role of some of the organisms involved is, at present, far from clear. The most definitive, and perhaps the best understood isolate is Brucella ovis (Buddie and Boyes, 1953). Data published since 1953, indicate, however, that Br. ovis is not the only organism associated with epididymitis in rams. Dodd and Hartley (1955) described a suppurative epididymitis of rams yielding an organism which was then, and still is, referred to as a “gram-negative pleomorph.” In Australia, Roberts (1956) described an organism, Histopfiilus ovis, which appeared to be identical with the “gram-negative pleomorph.” Histophilus ovis was isolated from a case of ewe mastitis. Further to this, another organism assigned to the genus Actinobacillus has been recovered from ram testicles submitted to this laboratory for diagnostic purposes. The characteristics of this o...