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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reprod Domest Anim / Bacterial killing activity and lysozymes: A stable defence m...
Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2022; 58(1); 73-80; doi: 10.1111/rda.14260

Bacterial killing activity and lysozymes: A stable defence mechanism in stallion seminal plasma?

Abstract: During insemination, bacterial contamination of the ejaculate can lead to reduced sperm quality and transmission of pathogens to the female, thus should be avoided. The semen of a variety of animal taxa possess antimicrobial properties against a wide range of bacterial species through antimicrobial molecules, such as lysozyme, but their variance and the factors influencing it are unknown for most species. In this study, the antibacterial defence (bacterial killing activity (BKA) against Escherichia (E.) coli and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus as well as lysozyme concentration) was studied in seminal fluid from two consecutive ejaculates of 18 stallions. All ejaculates showed BKA against the tested bacteria, which correlated between the two consecutive ejaculates (rS  = 0.526, p = .025 for E. coli and rS  = 0.656, p = .003 for S. aureus) and appeared to be stable over the tested period. The lysozyme concentration (LC) showed no significant correlation between the consecutive ejaculates (rS  = 0.161, p = .681). However, LC had a positive correlation to the ratio of apoptotic spermatozoa within the ejaculates (rS  = 0.426, p = .019). In contrast to other livestock (e.g., boar, bull), the BKA in stallion semen did not correlate significantly with the age of the animal nor sperm quality characteristics.
© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2022-09-21 PubMed ID: 36107117DOI: 10.1111/rda.14260Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This piece of research investigates the antibacterial properties found in stallion semen, particularly highlighting how the seminal fluid from stallions has a stable defensive mechanism against bacteria contamination. The research opens up new areas to explore concerning the factors that influence the variability of these antibacterial properties in different species.

Introduction

Semen in various animals, including stallions, possesses antimicrobial properties that act against a broad spectrum of bacterial species. These properties are essential as they help prevent bacterial contamination during insemination, which could otherwise lead to reduced sperm quality or transmission of pathogens to the recipient female. The specific antimicrobial molecules studied in this research are lysozymes.

Methodology

  • In this study, the researchers examined the antibacterial defenses of the seminal fluid from two subsequent ejaculates from 18 stallions.
  • The primary focus was on characteristics such as bacterial killing activity (BKA) against Escherichia (E.) coli and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, as well as the concentration of lysozyme in the seminal fluid.

Results

  • All ejaculates showed antibacterial activity against both E. coli and S. aureus, which remained consistent between the two consecutive ejaculates from the stallions.
  • Despite the consistent antibacterial activity, the lysozyme concentration did not show significant correlation between the two datasets of ejaculates.
  • Interestingly, a positive correlation was found between the lysozyme concentration and the ratio of apoptotic (self-programmed to die) spermatozoa within the ejaculates.
  • Contrary to other livestock species like boars and bulls, the BKA against E. coli and S. aureus in the stallion semen did not correlate significantly with the stallion’s age or the semen quality characteristics.

Conclusion

The paper concludes that the seminal fluid from stallions has a robust defence mechanism against bacterial infection that doesn’t depend on the stallion’s age or the semen’s quality characteristics. This suggests that other factors may influence the antibacterial properties of semen in stallions, such as lysozyme concentration, which might be influenced by the ratio of apoptotic spermatozoa.

Cite This Article

APA
Jakop U, Hensel B, Czirják GÁ, Quirino M, Schröter F, Jung M, Schulze M. (2022). Bacterial killing activity and lysozymes: A stable defence mechanism in stallion seminal plasma? Reprod Domest Anim, 58(1), 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14260

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 1
Pages: 73-80

Researcher Affiliations

Jakop, Ulrike
  • Institute for Reproduction of Farm Animals Schönow, Bernau, Germany.
Hensel, Britta
  • Institute for Reproduction of Farm Animals Schönow, Bernau, Germany.
Czirják, Gábor Á
  • Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
Quirino, Monike
  • Setor de Suínos, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Schröter, Filip
  • Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School, Bernau, Germany.
Jung, Markus
  • Institute for Reproduction of Farm Animals Schönow, Bernau, Germany.
Schulze, Martin
  • Institute for Reproduction of Farm Animals Schönow, Bernau, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Male
  • Bacteria
  • Escherichia coli
  • Horses
  • Muramidase
  • Semen
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary
  • Sperm Motility
  • Spermatozoa
  • Staphylococcus aureus

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