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This article was published in 1959
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INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.
An Unusual Case of Traumatic Balanitis in Border Leicester Rams
D. H. MUMFORD, B.V.Sc., Veterinary Inspector, Dubbo
The condition of "Sheath Rot" ("Balanitis", "Pizzle Rot") has been recognised for many years as a relatively common complaint in wethers. It has been particularly troublesome on improved pastures and, in some seasons, on lush natural pastures. The disease, however, seldom is seen in rams.
A reported high incidence of suspected Sheath Rot in a mob of Border Leicester rams prompted the investigation which forms the basis of this article.
The condition under review was diagnosed as traumatic balanitis and was found to be quite unrelated to Sheath Rot.
HISTORY
The complaint occurred in a mob of 49 Border Leicester flock rams, aged about eighteen months and shorn two months previously. They had been purchased and brought on to the property early in February, 1959, and held in a small paddock pending the arrival of the ewes to which they were to be mated.
The ewes, comprising 2,300 aged Merino ewes carrying about eight months wool arrived on the property about two weeks after the rams. They were crutched and the rams joined on 1st March, 1959. During mating, the sheep were running on river flats sown down to pasture.
About the middle of April, 1959, the owner reported what he suspected to be an outbreak of Sheath Rot in the rams.
LESIONS
After a preliminary investigation, it was quite apparent that the condition was not one of simple Sheath Rot. All the rams were examined and fifteen found affected were treated.
Cases fell into three categories.
a. Long-Standing Lesions
The owner reported having seen one or two cases of the complaint during the early part of the mating season, and these he put down to simple injury of some description. It was not until a number of cases developed quickly over a period of a week that he became concerned.
On examination, five rams were classed as having long-standing lesions. Of these, two showed prolapse of the penis; the other three, great enlargement of the penis within the sheath.
In the cases showing prolapse, the penis was severely damaged and the modified skin covering was hard, cracked and showed extensive abrasions covered by dry scabs. All efforts to return the penis to the sheath in these cases failed.
In the other cases, the enlarged end of the penis could be felt within the prepuce and the swelling 2½-3" across was readily seen through the skin; over an area corresponding to the depths of the prepuce. Attempts to extrude the penis in these cases were unsuccessful and it appears that considerable fibrous tissue reaction had taken place and extensive adhesions developed.
When exerting pressure in an attempt to get the penis out of the sheath, quantities of foul smelling material composed of dark, clotted blood mixed with pus and urine were expressed readily. Because of restriction to urination, these animals were losing condition, had a very dejected appearance and lay down quite a lot.
The prognosis in these cases as to eventual return to masculine usefulness, was very guarded.
b. Moderate LesionsThese comprised the majority of cases; nine animals being affected. In these there were no major external lesions. On close examination, the area surrounding the orifice of the prepuce was found to be moistened by small quantities of blood-stained urine. In one case a large scab covered the orifice and on removal left a bleeding ulcer-like lesion.
On extrusion of the penis in all the cases in this group, a primary lesion was found affecting the end of the penis - the galea glandis and collum glandis, mostly in the region of the corona glandis. The lesion comprised an area varying in size from ¼" diameter up to complete involvement of the whole of the glans and consisted of a fairly soft blood clot, which when removed left one or more clean cavities extending into the deeper tissues of the penis.
c. Most Recent Lesions
Only one case was seen in this category. Free, red blood was present at the orifice of the prepuce and an examination of the penis showed a distinct puncture wound; large enough to admit the end of a match.
TREATMENT
The advanced cases, in which there was retention of the penis, were treated by irrigation with cetrimide solution, which greatly assisted the removal of all debris and discharges, followed by neat cetrimide tincture injected into the sheath.
Cases with paramphimosis, together with the milder cases, were treated by liberal applications of cetrimide cream to the affected regions.
DISCUSSION
After the initial inspection, it was quite apparent that the condition was in no way related to Sheath Rot as seen in wethers, and it became fairly obvious very early in the course of inspection that some unusual traumatic agency was involved.
Considering the fact that the rams had been with the ewes for about seven weeks and conditions had been ideal for early mating, it is thought quite likely that the great majority of the ewes went in lamb very early in the season. This left the rams with excessive libido and a scarcity of ewes on which to expend it.
Under these conditions it was first thought that the condition was brought about by the rams jumping on one another but the lesions were too deep and localised for this to be a really satisfactory explanation.
It was not until one of the workers on the property observed some of the rams sucking (and apparently biting) one another about the prepuce that the nature and position of the lesions could be explained.