AVALIAÇÕES HISTOLÓGICA E HISTOMORFOMÉTRICA DE TESTÍCULOS DE BOVINOS COM DERMATITE DIGITAL

Abstract

The infection of the digital area is the most common cause of lameness in cattle, leading to the rejection of high-production animals destined to reproduction. This study aimed at histological and histomorphometric evaluations of the testis of bovines with digital dermatitis. Different portions of testis from 20 Nellore animals, ten healthy and ten with digital dermatitis, between 25 and 30 months of age, were analyzed. All analyzed testis showed some degree of degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium. Mononuclear interstitial infiltrate was observed in testis of both healthy bovines and the ones with digital dermatitis. Bovines with digital dermatitis presented higher height of seminiferous tubular epithelium in all regions of testis, larger area of the tubular lumen, and larger tubular diameter. We concluded that young Nellore bovines show different degrees of testicular degeneration, as well as chronic nonspecific interstitial orchitis, unrelated to digital dermatitis. The testis histomorphometric changes of these animals are not related with foot disease.

Keywords

• : morphometry
• podal disease
• testicular changes