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Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2022; 58(2); 349-357; doi: 10.1111/rda.14294

Penicillin and amikacin mixture has bactericidal activity equivalent to gentamicin, tylosin, lincomycin and spectinomycin mixture in equine frozen semen.

Abstract: Neat stallion semen can contain a variety of microorganisms, some of which may impair sperm quality and/or cause infection of the mares' reproductive tract. For this reason, antibiotics are commonly added to semen extenders. A combination of gentamicin, tylosin, lincomycin and spectinomycin (GTLS) has been recommended for use, but there are no reports on the use of this mixture in equine semen extender. Penicillin and amikacin (PA) are safe for preserving sperm quality while effectively controlling bacterial growth in equine cooled stored semen, but data on frozen semen are scarce. Therefore, a bioequivalence study was performed to assess the bactericidal activity of GTLS and PA in equine frozen semen. Nine mature, healthy stallions were used in the study. Split ejaculates were processed using media without antibiotics (Control) or with different antibiotics. For the GTLS group, centrifugation medium and freezing extender were prepared with gentamicin 250 μg/ml, tylosin 50 μg/ml, lincomycin 150 μg/ml and spectinomycin 300 μg/ml. For the PA group, the centrifugation medium was prepared with potassium penicillin G (PPG) 1200 units/ml and the freezing extender was prepared with PPG 1200 units/ml and amikacin 500 μg/ml. Semen processed in extenders without antibiotics had higher (p < .005) bacterial loads throughout all cryopreservation processing steps than semen samples processed using antibiotics. There were no differences in semen bacterial load after centrifugation, 15 and 30 min after final extension, and after thawing between GTLS and PA groups, but PA had faster (p < .05) kill-time kinetics than GTLS. Only minor differences in sperm kinetic parameters were observed among groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrated bioequivalence between GTLS and PA in mitigating end-point bacterial loads. Prudent concentrations of the antibiotic mixtures evaluated in this study can be considered both effective and sperm-safe for equine frozen semen.
© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2022-11-25 PubMed ID: 36369673DOI: 10.1111/rda.14294Google 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 paper has studied the effectiveness of the Penicillin and Amikacin (PA) mixture and Gentamicin, Tylosin, Lincomycin and Spectinomycin (GTLS) mixture in protecting equine frozen semen from bacterial growth. The researchers have found that both mixtures are equally effective in controlling sperm-safe bacteria in horse’s frozen semen.

Introduction

The research was initiated to assess the bactericidal activity of two different antibiotic mixtures – Penicillin and Amikacin (PA) and Gentamicin, Tylosin, Lincomycin and Spectinomycin (GTLS) in equine frozen semen. It was based on the background that stallion semen can contain numerous microorganisms which might impair sperm quality or cause infection in the mares’ reproductive tract. To curb this, antibiotics are often added to semen extenders.

Methodology

  • Nine healthy, mature stallions were used for the study and split ejaculates were processed using media with varied antibiotics.
  • The GTLS mixture consisted of gentamicin 250 μg/ml, tylosin 50 μg/ml, lincomycin 150 μg/ml, and spectinomycin 300 μg/ml while the PA mixture was prepared with potassium penicillin G (PPG) 1200 units/ml and amikacin 500 μg/ml added in the freezing extender along with PPG 1200 units/ml in the centrifugation medium.

Results

  • The researchers found that semen treated with extenders without the antibiotics showed greater bacterial loads during all cryopreservation procedures than those treated with antibiotics.
  • Bacterial load in the semen after centrifugation, and after 15 and 30 minutes of final extension and thawing, showed no significant difference between GTLS and PA groups.
  • Interestingly, PA had faster kill-time kinetics than GTLS. However, only slight variations were seen in the sperm kinetic parameters across groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it was observed that both GTLS and PA are bioequivelant in mitigating end-point bacterial loads. Therefore, it suggests that these antibiotic mixtures can be considered effective and safe for preserving equine frozen semen.

Cite This Article

APA
Brito LFC, Loomis PR, Klohonatz KM, Althouse GC. (2022). Penicillin and amikacin mixture has bactericidal activity equivalent to gentamicin, tylosin, lincomycin and spectinomycin mixture in equine frozen semen. Reprod Domest Anim, 58(2), 349-357. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14294

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 2
Pages: 349-357

Researcher Affiliations

Brito, Leonardo F C
  • Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Kennett, USA.
Loomis, Paul R
  • Select Breeders Service, Chesapeake, Maryland, USA.
Klohonatz, Kristin M
  • Select Breeders Service, Chesapeake, Maryland, USA.
Althouse, Gary C
  • Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Kennett, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Female
  • Spectinomycin / pharmacology
  • Lincomycin / pharmacology
  • Tylosin
  • Amikacin / pharmacology
  • Gentamicins / pharmacology
  • Penicillins
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary
  • Semen / microbiology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Spermatozoa / microbiology
  • Cryopreservation / veterinary
  • Sperm Motility

Grant Funding

  • Minitube
  • Select Breeders Service

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Brito LFC, Linardi RL, Rosales LAS, Balamurugan NS, Hernández-Avilés C, Ramírez-Agámez L. Evaluation of a Chemically Defined, Long-Term Extender for Liquid Storage of Stallion Semen. Reprod Domest Anim 2025 Sep;60(9):e70126.
    doi: 10.1111/rda.70126pubmed: 41002042google scholar: lookup
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