Epididymitis is a venereal disease of rams caused by the bacteria Brucella ovis. Epididymitis means inflammation of the epididymitis, the tubular portion of the testical that collects the sperm produced by the testes and stores it until it is ready to transport. Severely affected rams will often have at least one enlarged epididymis and may show pain when the testicle is manipulated.
Epididymitis causes varying degrees of damage. It may cause infertility by affecting the ram’s ability to produce viable sperm. It is the number one ram fertility problem seen in the sheep industry. Epididymitis is contagious and is transmitted during homosexual activity or during the breeding season via the ewe. Only about half of the rams affected by epididymitis respond to antibiotic treatment. Damage is usually permanent. Prevention is to buy virgin or disease-free rams, to subject rams to diagnostic testing, and to cull affected rams.