Pathological findings in the bulbourethal glands of bulls

Abstract

The bulbourethral glands of 323 Bos indicus or B. indicus crossbred bulls more than 18 months old were examined in an abattoir study. Bulbourethral adenitis was diagnosed grossly and confirmed by histological examination in 4 (1.2%). Unilateral chronic interstitial inflammation was seen in 2 cases; one of these was associated with a degenerative-type seminal vesiculitis. In the others adenitis was bilateral; in one case it was associated with a concretion and foreign (plant) material in the principal duct of the left bulbourethral gland; in the other bilateral case, numerous calculi were present and microscopically, a chronic active and diffuse inflammation was observed. Chemical analysis of the calculi showed calcium oxalate and tricalcium phosphate to be the most important components. Corynebacterium spp. were isolated from the lesion with multiple calculi but attempts to isolate Chlamydia spp., Mycoplasma spp. and Brucella abortus from the 4 adenitis cases were unsuccessful. Congenital abnormalitieis such as glandular fusion (2.2%) or unlateral aplasia (0.6%) were also observed. Cysts were the most common finding (19.2%), and duct dilation was frequent (7.1%).