International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE
Vol 4(7) Oct’14
Surgical Affections of Scrotum in Bulls - A Report of Three Cases
G. Kamalakar*, V. Devi Prasad1, R. Mahesh2, R.V. Suresh Kumar3
Department of Surgery and Radiology,College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara
Veterinary University, Proddatur, YSR Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh– 516360
INDIA
1
Associate Professor, 2 Assistant Professor, 3Professor & Head
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Rec. Date:
Sep 17, 2014 09:48
Accept Date:
Oct 06, 2014 03:41
Published Online:
October 07, 2014
DOI
10.5455/ijlr.20141006034121
Abstract
Two bullocks and a bull of different ages were presented to clinic with chronic orchitis, pyocele and
hydrocele respectively. As the medical treatment failed, scrotal ablation was carried out under sedation
with xylaxine along with local analgesia by lignocaine. Maintaining good postoperative measures
rewarded proper recovery.
Key words: Bullocks, orchitis, pyocele, hydrocele, scrotal ablation.
Introduction
Scrotal conditions requiring the attention of the surgeons for the permanent treatment because it was
affected by various conditions viz., testicular tumours, varicocele, hydrocele, trauma, orchitis, peri
orchitis, torsion of spermatic cord, scrotal hernia, etc. (Schumacher et al., 1992). Most of them are
acquired in nature and may be unilateral or bilateral. A bull with these affections cannot be put for work
and becomes a liability to the farmer. In racing bulls, this can seriously affect the performance of the bull.
In village scenario, these cases are first handled by quacks, para veterinarians before being referred to a
qualified surgeon, thus complicating the existing pathology. Hence, these problems need to be addressed
immediately on war foot basis.
Orchitis is inflammation of testis which may be primary or secondary and acute or chronic (O’Connor,
2005). Pyocele is accumulation of pus in scrotum which may be a consequence of orchitis and concurrent
bacterial infection (Sagar et al., 2010). Hydrocele is accumulation of fluid between the two layers of
improper technique of closed method of castration. Apart from faulty castration, hydrocele may also be
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DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20141006034121
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serving bulls and hamper the work in working bullocks. Orchitis and pyocele are mostly the sequelae to
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vaginal tunic of scrotum (Gupta and Khar, 2010). These conditions severely affect the reproduction in
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE
Vol 4(7) Oct’14
due to trauma, ascites or strongyle larvae in spermatic artery. Depending on the extent of scrotal
involvement, either unilateral orchiectomy (Maxwell, 2005) or scrotal ablation (Gupta and Khar, 2010,
Sagar et al., 2010) were adopted.
Case History and Clinical Observations
Case 1: An Ongole bullock aged 10 years with severe scrotal swelling was presented to the clinic. It was
reported to have resulted from an improper technique of closed method of castration conducted 5 months
earlier. It was treated locally by a Veterinarian with enrofloxacin, meloxicam and chlorpheneramine
maleate but in vain. Clinical examination revealed abduction of hind limbs, enlarged and painful scrotum
that extended up to the hock was detected. Only left side testicle was affected but not the spermatic cord
and was diagnosed as orchitis.
Case 2: An Ongole cross bullock of 8 years age was presented to the clinic with a hard swelling of right
side of scrotum with an open wound at its tip for the past one month. It was also as a result of faulty
castration conducted three months earlier and was also treated locally by a quack without any success.
Clinical examination revealed severe hard swelling of right side of scrotum including spermatic cord and
abduction of hind limbs. An open septic wound was observed at its ventral most aspect which was filled
with pus and on probing it extended up to the neck of scrotum. The case was diagnosed as scirrhous cord
and pyocele (Fig 1).
Fig 1: Photograph showing open wound (arrow) leading to unilateral scirrous cord and pyocele
sac at weekly intervals. When swollen severely, it reaches the level of hocks affecting the normal gait and
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function of animal. On observation, the swelling was in left side of scrotum (Fig. 2) and on palpation it
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Case 3: A young Ongole bull of 5 yrs age was presented with intermittent accumulation of fluid in scrotal
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DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20141006034121
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE
Vol 4(7) Oct’14
was soft and fluctuating with fixed testis. On careful aspiration, fluid appeared clear to straw coloured. It
was diagnosed as unilateral hydrocele and was treated with furosemide, chlorpheneramine maleate and
meloxicam for 5 days. It gradually subsided but recurred within 10 days.
In all the 3 cases medical treatment failed and scrotal ablation was resorted to.
Fig 2: Photograph showing unilateral hydrocele (observe swelling in left side of scrotum)
Treatment and Discussion
All animals were fasted for 18 hours and prepared for aseptic surgery. They were sedated with intra
muscular injection of Xylazine hydrochloride @ 0.01 mg/ kg, controlled in right lateral recumbency after
securing four legs together and the scrotum was pulled out for easy manoeuvrability. Local analgesia was
achieved by ring block using two per cent lignocaine hydrochloride. After all aseptic precautions, a
circular incision was placed around the neck of scrotum (Fig. 3) and the spermatic cords were isolated
after careful and blunt dissection. The latter were ligated by transfixation employing chromic catgut no. 3
and they were severed distal to the ligature. With careful dissection whole scrotum was separated and the
capillary bleeding was arrested by digital pressure. Then the whole area was irrigated with dilute
povidone iodine. Strepto penicillin powder was sprinkled on the site. Skin edges were sutured with nylon
antiseptic dressing was continued for next 7 days and all the animals recovered to normalcy.
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chlorpheneramine maleate and ceftriaxone were administered. This treatment along with routine
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in horizontal mattress pattern and a tincture benzoin seal was applied. Post operatively ketoprofen,
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE
Vol 4(7) Oct’14
Closed method of castration using burdizzo’s castrator is being done worldwide as it is a simple and
bloodless technique in bulls, rams, and bucks. But care should be taken to avoid urethra and part of testes
which can potentially cause damage (Gupta and Khar, 2010). Many precautions like pulling of the other
testicle while crushing the spermatic cord of the first testicle are often avoided due to either ignorance of
the fact by the quacks or due to violent movement of the animal during the procedure. Severe swelling of
orchitis following castration by closed method is not uncommon in bulls. In the present cases, it was due
to faulty castration which resulted in sarcocele and then orchitis. However orchitis may also occur due to
external traumatic injuries, irritants applied on scrotal region or toxins of an infectious agent (O’Connor,
2005).
Fig 3: Photograph showing Circumscribed incision for Orchidectomy in case of orchitis.
In cases 1 & 2 inflammed tunica vaginalis, epididymitis and orchitis were observed which could be
attributed to the prolonged duration; while both the testes were normal but only mild inflammation of
tunica vaginalis evident in case 3 might be due to earlier detection of abnormality. Pyocele was a
consequence of orchitis infected by pyogenic bacteria, while scirrhous cord is a fibrous thickening of the
spermatic cord due to its invasion by microbes (O’Connor, 2010). Sagar et al. (2010) reported a case of
pyocele treated by scrotal ablation which was also a consequence of faulty technique of castration.
Though pyocele was unilateral, scrotal ablation was followed anticipating spread of infection from
Hydrocele may be unilateral or bilateral and is commonly associated with ascites and intestinal oedema
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(Abbitt et al., 1995) and may satisfactorily get resolved early in unilateral than bilateral hydrocele
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heavily infected adjoining half of the scrotum.
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DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20141006034121
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE
Vol 4(7) Oct’14
depending on severity and duration of condition (Shore et al., 1995). In the third case, hydrocele was
unilateral with straw coloured fluid and was resultant of trauma. Because the medical treatment for
hydrocele failed, scrotal ablation was opted as the animal was not meant for breeding purpose. Contrary
to the present technique, a unilateral orchiectomy was adopted by Omar et al. (2013).
References
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DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20141006034121