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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / Aerobic bacterial flora of semen and stallion reproductive t...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica1998; 39(2); 173-182; doi: 10.1186/BF03547790

Aerobic bacterial flora of semen and stallion reproductive tract and its relation to fertility under field conditions.

Abstract: This study was initiated in order to investigate the bacterial flora of the stallion genital tract by taking consecutive samples from normal stallions in regular use. The objective was to determine whether any growth of potential pathogens, particularly P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae, in fresh semen and urethra was associated with the presence of inflammatory cells in the semen and whether bacterial growth had any effect on sperm morphology and pregnancy results. Sixteen stallions, only used for A.I., housed at 3 different commercial stud farms, were used. A wide variety of microorganisms was found in almost all samples from fresh semen (total 115 samples). P. aeruginosa was isolated from 46/115 (40%) of the samples and from 12 of the 16 stallions. K. pneumoniae was isolated from the semen of one stallion. Samples taken from the distal urethra after ejaculation contained fewer microorganisms than samples from fresh semen. No bacteria were found in 51% of the extended semen samples. Most of the stallions had an acceptable sperm morphology, and very few of the ejaculates contained inflammatory cells. Pregnancy results among the stallions varied, but were acceptable for most of them. There was no correlation between the frequency of samples testing positive for P. aeruginosa in raw semen and pregnancy results. Syftet med studien var att undersöka bakteriefloran i prov från hingstars sperma och yttre genitalia och se om växt av potentiella patogener, med tyngdpunkt på P. aeruginosa och K. pneumoniae, i färsk sperma och urethra var kopplat till fynd av inflammatoriska celler i sperman. Vidare att undersöka om bakterieväxten hade någon effekt på spermiemorfologin och dräktighetsresultatet. Sexton hingstar, uppstallade på tre olika stuterier (samtliga använde A.I.teknik), användes i studien. Prover togs regelbundet från varje hingst under sexualsäsongen. En stor variation av olika mikroorganismer sågs i så gott som samtliga prover från färsk sperma (totalt 115 prover). P. aeruginosa isolerades från 45/115 (40%) av proverna och 12 av de 16 hingstarna uppvisade ett eller flera positiva prover avseende växt av P. aeruginosa. Prover tagna från distala urethra efter ejakulation innehöll färre mikroorganismer jämfört med proverna tagna från färsk sperma. I 51% av proverna från spädd sperma sågs ingen bakterieväxt. De flesta hingstarna hade en acceptabel spermiemorfologi och endast ett fåtal av ejakulaten innehöll inflammatoriska celler. Dräktighetsresultet varierade mellan hingstarna, men majoriteten hade en tillfredställande fruktsamhet. Ingen korrelation sågs mellan frekvensen P. aeruginosa positiva prover och dräktighetsresultatet.
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Publication Date: 1998-10-27 PubMed ID: 9787481PubMed Central: PMC8050676DOI: 10.1186/BF03547790Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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Summary

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The research article investigates the bacterial flora present in the genital tract of stallions and its possible impact on fertility rates by analyzing various samples that include fresh semen and urethral samples. The key pathogens of interest were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia, however, the study found no significant relationship between the presence of these bacteria and stallion fertility.

Scope of the Research

  • This research study was performed on sixteen stallions that were only used for Artificial Insemination (A.I.) across three different commercial stud farms.
  • The study involved the regular extraction and analysis of fresh semen samples and urethral samples to evaluate the presence and diversity of microorganisms, focusing on potential pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
  • The examination of a total of 115 semen samples took place during the sexual season.

Findings of the Research

  • A variety of microorganisms were found in almost all fresh semen samples. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in 40% of the samples and present in 12 of the 16 stallions, while Klebsiella pneumoniae was only isolated from the semen of one stallion.
  • Samples taken from the distal urethra after ejaculation had fewer microorganisms compared to the fresh semen samples.
  • No bacterial growth was found in 51% of the diluted semen samples.
  • Most stallions had acceptable sperm morphology, with only a few ejaculates containing inflammatory cells.
  • Even though there were differences in fertility results among the stallions, most of them showed acceptable results.

Conclusion of the Study

  • No correlation was found between the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the raw semen samples and pregnancy results, suggesting that the presence of this pathogen in the semen does not affect the fertility rates in stallions.

Cite This Article

APA
Malmgren L, Olsson Engvall E, Engvall A, Albihn A. (1998). Aerobic bacterial flora of semen and stallion reproductive tract and its relation to fertility under field conditions. Acta Vet Scand, 39(2), 173-182. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547790

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 0044-605X
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 39
Issue: 2
Pages: 173-182

Researcher Affiliations

Malmgren, L
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Olsson Engvall, E
    Engvall, A
      Albihn, A

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Female
        • Fertility
        • Horses
        • Klebsiella pneumoniae / growth & development
        • Klebsiella pneumoniae / isolation & purification
        • Male
        • Pregnancy
        • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / growth & development
        • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification
        • Semen / microbiology
        • Urethra / microbiology

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