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NOVEMBER 2022


FC FC FB FB FA a) FA a) b)


Fig 4: (a) Conventional semen collection ejaculated with evidence of pyospermia. (b) Fractionated semen collection from a stallion with a suggestive diagnosis for epididymitis, orchitis or ampullitis, and purulent content is observed in every fraction of the ejaculate (FA, FB and FC) (Video S3).


b) Pre


Fig 5: (a) Conventional semen collection ejaculated with evidence of pyospermia. (b) Fractionated semen collection in a stallion with seminal vesiculitis, and the presence of purulent material is only observed in the last fraction of the ejaculate (FC) (Video S4).


However, the clinical signs may resurge after the treatment is discontinued (Blanchard et al., 2002).


Urethral rents and lesions on the penis glans


cytology shows the presence of PMNs in every fraction of the ejaculate. It is fairly common to observe these abnormalities when evaluating stallion ejaculation. The orchitis, epididymitis and ampullitis may occur alone or in association with other diseases.


Seminal vesiculitis


The last fraction of the stallions’ ejaculate is composed of secretions from the seminal vesicles. This fraction is responsible for the largest production of seminal plasma and gel contained in ejaculate (Varner et al., 1987). The seminal vesiculitis is mainly characterised by the presence of pyospermia and bacteria (McKinnon, 2013; Oliveira et al., 2020; Varner et al., 2000). In addition, the presence of haemospermia and high counts of PMNs may occur (McKinnon, 2013; Oliveira et al., 2020; Varner et al., 2000). The presence of purulent, mucopurulent, bloody


material and high counts of PMNs may be observed in fraction C of the ejaculate, which are suggestive of seminal vesiculitis (McKinnon, 2013; Oliveira et al., 2020). It is noteworthy that the contamination of semen with blood has a devastating effect on equine fertility (Voss and


Pickett, 1975). Figures 5 and 6 depicts the macroscopic findings in the ejaculate of two different stallions that were diagnosed with seminal vesiculitis. In Fig 5, pyospermia is observed, whereas in Fig 6, haemospermia is observed. Both clinical findings are suggestive of seminal vesiculitis. The available treatment to seminal vesiculitis is still hard and challenging. The preferred options to treat seminal vesiculitis are the antibiotics with high liposolubility, low affinity with plasma proteins, low molecular weight and high pKa (Varner & Schlafer, 2015; Wagenlehner et al., 2005).


The blood observed in cases of haemospermia commonly originate from accessory sex glands, however other anatomical structures (e.g. urethra, urethral process, penis and its glands), should not be overlooked as an origin of bleeding (McKinnon, 2013). The haemospermia may be of idiopathic origin, or it may result from injuries caused during natural breeding (McKinnon, 2013). The diagnosis is based on the observation of blood in the ejaculate. In order to identify the exact origin of the blood, the stallion must be teased with


FC


FB


FA a) b)


Fig 6: (a) Conventional semen collection ejaculated with evidence of haemospermia. (b) Fractionated semen collection in a stallion with seminal vesiculitis and presence of bloody material is only observed in the last fraction of the ejaculate (FC) (Video S4).


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