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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2019; 61(1); 25; doi: 10.1186/s13028-019-0459-z

Bacteria detected in the genital tract, semen or pre-ejaculatory fluid of Swedish stallions from 2007 to 2017.

Abstract: Although artificial insemination (AI) was developed as a means of controlling disease transmission, pathogens can still be transmitted to females in semen used for AI. In addition, bacteria can cause deterioration in sperm quality during storage. Semen becomes contaminated by the male's normal bacterial flora as it passes out of the reproductive tract but potential pathogens may also contaminate the semen. Therefore, semen samples from stallions to be used for AI are tested before the breeding season to minimize transmission of pathogens to inseminated mares. In Sweden, semen samples are tested at the National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala (SVA). For the present study, a retrospective analysis was made of potentially pathogenic bacteria isolated from samples submitted to the SVA from 2007 to 2017. Results: In our study, Taylorella equigenitalis was found infrequently (53 out of 25,512 samples), representing 11 out of 2308 stallions. If T. equigenitalis was detected, the stallions were treated with antibiotics and re-tested later in the same year. Klebsiella pneumoniae and beta haemolytic streptococci were the most commonly found potential pathogens, whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also isolated occasionally. There were considerable differences in the number of species isolated each year. Conclusions: Potential pathogens were identified in relatively few of the samples submitted to SVA during this period, with T. equigenitalis not being identified since 2015. Of the other potential pathogens, K. pneumoniae and beta haemolytic streptococci were the most common. The information is relevant for determining guidelines on the testing and treatment of stallions before breeding.
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Publication Date: 2019-05-30 PubMed ID: 31146786PubMed Central: PMC6543573DOI: 10.1186/s13028-019-0459-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article studied the presence of potentially harmful bacteria in semen samples from Swedish stallions used for artificial insemination over a ten-year period. The study found relatively few instances of dangerous pathogens, helping to shape guidelines for testing and treating stallions before breeding.

Overview of the Research

This research article examined the semen and pre-ejaculatory fluid samples obtained from Swedish stallions between 2007 and 2017, looking for the presence of potentially harmful bacteria. The principal aim was to minimize the spread of pathogens to mares during artificial insemination (AI), and to prevent the deterioration of sperm quality due to bacterial contamination.

  • The study was retrospective, drawing on data from samples tested at the National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala (SVA).
  • The stallions’ semen naturally picks up bacteria from their own bacterial flora as it exits their reproductive tract.
  • This bacteria can, however, be potentially pathogenic, thus necessitating tests before the breeding season for stallions whose semen will be used for AI.

Main Findings

The study highlighted some key results with regards to the presence and prevalence of bacteria in semen samples.

  • The study found Taylorella equigenitalis bacteria in relatively few samples (53 out of 25,512), and only in 11 out of 2308 stallions.
  • When T. equigenitalis was identified in a stallion, treatment with antibiotics was initiated, and the specimen re-tested later in the same year.
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae and beta haemolytic streptococci were the most common potential pathogens found.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria were isolated occasionally.
  • There was a significant variation in the types and numbers of species isolated each year during the study term.

Conclusions

The research found that the presence of potential pathogens in the stallions’ semen samples was not high.

  • T. equigenitalis was not identified at all after 2015.
  • In most instances, the bacteria detected were K. pneumoniae and beta haemolytic streptococci.
  • These findings help in formulating guidelines on testing stallions and their treatment before the breeding season for AI.

Cite This Article

APA
Al-Kass Z, Eriksson E, Bagge E, Wallgren M, Morrell JM. (2019). Bacteria detected in the genital tract, semen or pre-ejaculatory fluid of Swedish stallions from 2007 to 2017. Acta Vet Scand, 61(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-019-0459-z

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 1
Pages: 25

Researcher Affiliations

Al-Kass, Ziyad
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
  • Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.
Eriksson, Erik
  • Department of Bacteriology, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.
Bagge, Elisabeth
  • Department of Bacteriology, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.
Wallgren, Margareta
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
Morrell, Jane Margaret
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden. jane.morrell@slu.se.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
  • Body Fluids / microbiology
  • Genitalia, Male / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Insemination, Artificial
  • Male
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / diagnosis
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / drug therapy
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / microbiology
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / veterinary
  • Semen / microbiology
  • Sweden

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Zabala SM, Serres C, Montero N, Crespo F, Lorenzo PL, Pérez-Aguilera V, Oliet A, Hijón V, Moreno S, González-Zorn B, Gutiérrez-Cepeda L. Innovative Approaches to Avoid Antibiotic Use in Equine Semen Cryopreservation: Advancing Sustainable Reproductive Technologies. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 9;15(10).
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  2. Zabala SM, Serres C, Montero N, Crespo F, Lorenzo PL, Pérez-Aguilera V, Galán C, Domínguez-Gimbernat M, Oliet A, Moreno S, González-Zorn B, Gutiérrez-Cepeda L. Strategies to Reduce the Use of Antibiotics in Fresh and Chilled Equine Semen. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jan 5;14(2).
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  3. Egyptien S, Deleuze S, Ledeck J, Ponthier J. Sperm Quality Assessment in Stallions: How to Choose Relevant Assays to Answer Clinical Questions. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 6;13(19).
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