Authors:V.O. Sekoni , A. Sanusi , M.O.I. Abatan , E.O. Oyedipe , P.I. Rekwot , L.O. Eduvie
Int. Volume 37, Issue 2, February 1992, Pages 533–549
Abstract
The libido and semen quality of two Friesian bulls used for artificial insemination were routinely studied in a tropical environment during a period of 32 months, beginning when they were 2.5 years old.
One of the bulls had very good libido and semen quality throughout the study period. The second bull had these same characteristics until 21 months, when a chronic infection, besnoitiosis, was noticed in the 22nd month. The infection was manifested by pyrexia, weakness, loss of libido and a chronic dermatitis which resulted in a progressive wrinkling and thickening of the skin. The scrotum was highly inflammed (reddish) and wrinkled. There was a progressive deterioration of semen quality in the infected bull that manifested itself in elevated morphological sperm abnormalities and oligozoospermia. During the last 5 months of the investigation, all the ejaculates collected from the infected bull were watery, transparent and devoid of spermatozoa (azoospermia) because the bull had become sterile. This study thus reports on an instance of sterility in a bull caused by besnoitiosis in Nigeria.