Preputial diverticulum ulcer - Atlas of swine pathology
Where:
Possible causes: BrucellosisClassical Swine FeverAfrican swine fever
Such lesions are not uncommon in mature boars and can be palpated via the preputial orifice with a small finger (with the boar adequately restrained). A small proportion of lesions will lead to haemorrhage either sporadically or as here persistently.
Whilst Chlamydophila and Brucella suis have been suggested as a cause of the ulcer, the role of such infections is not clear and most lesions are probably the result of mixed non-specific infection in the preputial diverticulum.
Preputial ulcers associated with ASF/CSF infection are not well recognised but could theoretically occur if more widespread haemorrhagic lesions are seen. (Grossly this lesion resembles a button ulcer in the mucosa of the colon).
Local instillation of broad spectrum antibiotics (such as intramammary preparations used outwith their licence) and regular expression of accumulated fluid can lead to healing of the lesion but severe or long standing cases respond poorly to treatment. Ablation surgery under anaesthesia has been suggested but is of dubious economic justification.
The presence of blood in semen is not necessarily spermicidal but discolouration of semen would render it unacceptable for supply.
