FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2022-09-21 PubMed ID: 36107117DOI: 10.1111/rda.14260Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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

References

This article includes 39 references
  1. Aurich C, Spergser J. Influence of bacteria and gentamicin on cooled-stored stallion spermatozoa. Theriogenology 67, 912-918.
  2. Aurich J E. Artificial insemination in horses - more than a century of practice and research. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 32, 458-463.
  3. Bromfield J J. A role for seminal plasma in modulating pregnancy outcomes in domestic species. Reproduction 152, R223-r32.
  4. Cuervo-Arango J, Nivola K, Väihkönen L, Katila T. The effect of storage temperature of stallion semen on pregnancy rates. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 35, 611-616.
  5. Ferenčík M, Ebringer L. Modulatory effects of selenium and zinc on the immune system. Folia Microbiologica 48, 417-426.
  6. Gibb Z, Aitken R J. Recent developments in stallion semen preservation. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 43, S29-S36.
  7. Giraudeau M, Czirják G Á, Duval C, Bretagnolle V, Eraud C, McGraw K J, Heeb P. Effect of restricted preen-gland access on maternal self maintenance and reproductive investment in mallards. PLoS One 5, e13555.
  8. Hall S H, Hamil K G, French F S. Host defense proteins of the male reproductive tract. Journal of Andrology 23, 585-597.
  9. Hankiewicz J, Swierczek E. Lysozyme in human body fluids. Clinica Chimica Acta 57, 205-209.
  10. Heinrich S K, Hofer H, Courtiol A, Melzheimer J, Dehnhard M, Czirják G Á, Wachter B. Cheetahs have a stronger constitutive innate immunity than leopards. Scientific Reports 7, 44837.
  11. Hijazin M, Alber J, Lämmler C, Weitzel T, Hassan A A, Timke M, Kostrzewa M, Prenger-Berninghoff E, Zschöck M. Identification of Trueperella (Arcanobacterium) bernardiae by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis and by species-specific PCR. Journal of Medical Microbiology 61, 457-459.
  12. Huang Z, Liu Y, Qi G, Brand D, Zheng S G. Role of vitamin A in the immune system. Journal of Clinical Medicine 7, 258.
  13. Ijaz A, Ducharme R. Effect of various extenders and taurine on survival of stallion sperm cooled to 5 C. Theriogenology 44, 1039-1050.
  14. Kumar S, Tomar A K, Singh S, Gill K, Dey S, Singh S, Yadav S. Heparin binding carboxypeptidase E protein exhibits antibacterial activity in human semen. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 64, 319-327.
  15. Lahnsteiner F, Radner M. Lysozyme activities and immunoglobulin concentrations in seminal plasma and spermatozoa of different teleost species and indications on its significance for sperm function. Theriogenology 74, 246-254.
  16. Maasen M, Christensen P. Bacterial flora of semen collected from Danish warmblood stallions by artificial vagina. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 36, 1-7.
  17. Metcalf E S. The role of international transport of equine semen on disease transmission. Animal Reproduction Science 68, 229-237.
  18. Morrell J, Klein C, Lundeheim N, Erol E, Troedsson M. Removal of bacteria from stallion semen by colloid centrifugation. Animal Reproduction Science 145, 47-53.
  19. Neto C R, da Silva Y F R S, Resende H L, Guasti P N, Monteiro G A, Papa P M, Papa F O. Control methods and evaluation of bacterial growth on fresh and cooled stallion semen. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 35, 277-282.
  20. Poiani A. Complexity of seminal fluid: a review. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 60, 289-310.
  21. Poor A P, Moreno L Z, Monteiro M S, Matajira C E C, Dutra M C, Leal D F, Silva A P S, Gomes V T M, Barbosa M R F, Sato M I Z, Moreno A M. Vaginal microbiota signatures in healthy and purulent vulvar discharge sows. Scientific Reports 12, 9106.
  22. Primo E D, Otero L H, Ruiz F, Klinke S, Giordano W. The disruptive effect of lysozyme on the bacterial cell wall explored by an in-silico structural outlook. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 46, 83-90.
  23. Ragland S A, Criss A K. From bacterial killing to immune modulation: Recent insights into the functions of lysozyme. PLoS Pathogens 13, e1006512.
  24. Rickard J P, de Graaf S P. Sperm surface changes and their consequences for sperm transit through the female reproductive tract. Theriogenology 150, 96-105.
  25. Rickard J P, Pool K R, Druart X, de Graaf S P. The fate of spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract: A comparative review. Theriogenology 137, 104-112.
  26. Rota A, Calicchio E, Nardoni S, Fratini F, Ebani V V, Sgorbini M, Panzani D, Camillo F, Mancianti F. Presence and distribution of fungi and bacteria in the reproductive tract of healthy stallions. Theriogenology 76, 464-470.
  27. Rowe M, Czirják G Á, Lifjeld J T, Giraudeau M. Lysozyme-associated bactericidal activity in the ejaculate of a wild passerine. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 109, 92-100.
  28. Samper J C, Tibary A. Disease transmission in horses. Theriogenology 66, 551-559.
  29. Schulze M, Czirják G Á, Müller K, Bortfeldt R, Jung M, Jakop U. Antibacterial defense and sperm quality in boar ejaculates. Journal of Reproductive Immunology 131, 13-20.
  30. Schulze M, Henning H, Rüdiger K, Wallner U, Waberski D. Temperature management during semen processing: Impact on boar sperm quality under laboratory and field conditions. Theriogenology 80, 990-998.
  31. Schulze M, Jakop U, Schröter F, Herrmann C, Leiding C, Müller K, Jung M, Czirják G Á. Antibacterial defense in bull and boar semen: A putative link to the microbiome and reproductive strategy?. Theriogenology 157, 335-340.
  32. Schulze M, Nitsche-Melkus E, Hensel B, Jung M, Jakop U. Antibiotics and their alternatives in artificial breeding in livestock. Animal Reproduction Science 220, 106284.
  33. Schulze M, Rüdiger K, Müller K, Jung M, Well C, Reissmann M. Development of an in vitro index to characterize fertilizing capacity of boar ejaculates. Animal Reproduction Science 140, 70-76.
  34. Schulze M, Schröter F, Jung M, Jakop U. Evaluation of a panel of spermatological methods for assessing reprotoxic compounds in multilayer semen plastic bags. Scientific Reports 10, 22258.
  35. Shivaji S. Antimicrobial activity of semen. Trends in Biochemical Sciences 9, 104-107.
  36. Strzeżek J, Hopfer E, Zaborniak A. Zinc ion-dependent protein in boar semen. II. Effects on sperm motility and antibacterial properties. Animal Reproduction Science 13, 133-142.
  37. Troedsson M H T. Therapeutic considerations for mating-induced endometritis. Pferdeheilkunde 13, 516-520.
  38. Weinberg E D. Human lactoferrin: A novel therapeutic with broad spectrum potential. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 53, 1303-1310.
  39. Wiebke M, Hensel B, Nitsche-Melkus E, Jung M, Schulze M. Cooled storage of semen from livestock animals (part I): boar, bull, and stallion. Animal Reproduction Science 106822, 106822.

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.