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Theriogenology2011; 76(3); 464-470; doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.02.023

Presence and distribution of fungi and bacteria in the reproductive tract of healthy stallions.

Abstract: A saprophytic bacterial flora is present on the penis and the distal part of the urethra of stallions. Little is known about the fungal flora of their reproductive tract. As micro organisms play an important role in mares fertility, the aim of the study was to describe the distribution of fungi and bacteria in the normal genital apparatus of stallions. The microbic flora of the reproductive tract of 11 healthy, fertile stallions was evaluated, collecting samples from 5 different locations: urethral fossa, penis/internal lamina of the prepuce, urethra pre- and post-ejaculation, and semen. For fungal examination samples were taken on 3 different occasions (N = 165), while for bacteriologic examination samples were taken on one occasion only (N = 55). There was a statistical difference in the presence of filamentous fungi between urethral fossa or penis/prepuce (45.4%) and urethra pre- or postejaculation or semen (15.1%, 6.0%, and 0.0%, respectively). Yeasts were isolated in 9.1% of the samples, never in semen. The most represented mycelial fungi were Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., Scopulariopsis spp., Trichosporon spp. and Mucoracee. The proportion of samples showing a total bacterial count ≥ 10,000 colony forming units (CFU) was higher for urethral fossa than for urethra pre- or postejaculation or for semen. Some bacterial growth was always observed in all locations, including the ejaculate. Differences between sampling locations were observed also for Staphylococci, both coagulase positive and negative. Salmonella enterica Abortus equi and sulphite reducing clostridia and other pathogens (including Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas spp.) were never isolated. Escherichia coli and coliforms always showed a low or absent flora. These data add information to the literature.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2011-05-06 PubMed ID: 21529914DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.02.023Google 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.

This research study aimed to explore and describe the distribution of fungi and bacteria in the reproductive tract of healthy, fertile stallions. Results showed significant differences in the presence of filamentous fungi in various parts of the tract, and that some bacteria were always present at all locations, including in ejaculate. The study contributes to existing knowledge about the microbial flora in the stallion reproductive tract.

Objectives and Methodology

  • The primary objective of the study was to gain more understanding about the distribution of fungi and bacteria in the genital apparatus of stallions. This was due to the significant role that microorganisms play regarding fertility in mares.
  • The researchers studied a sample size of 11 healthy, fertile stallions. From each stallion, they collected samples from five different locations within the reproductive tract, namely the urethral fossa, the penis/internal lamina of the prepuce, the urethra pre-ejaculation, the urethra post-ejaculation, and semen.
  • For fungal examination, three sets of samples were taken (totaling 165), while for bacterial examination, one set of samples were taken (55 total).

Key Findings

  • There was a statistical difference observed in the presence of filamentous fungi – it was higher in the urethral fossa or penis/prepuce (45.4%) and lower in urethra pre- or postejaculation or semen (15.1%, 6.0%, and 0.0% respectively).
  • Yeasts were only found in 9.1% of the samples and never in semen. The most common fungi found were Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., Scopulariopsis spp., Trichosporon spp., and Mucoracee.
  • The study revealed that the bacterial count equal to or more than 10,000 colony forming units (CFU) was higher in the urethral fossa than in the urethra pre- or postejaculation or in semen.
  • Some bacterial growth was noted in all locations, including in the ejaculate. The locations also showed differences in the presence of Staphylococci, both coagulase positive and negative.
  • Certain pathogenic species including Salmonella enterica Abortus equi and sulphite reducing clostridia, Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were never isolated.
  • Escherichia coli and coliforms consistently displayed a low or non-existent flora.

Significance and Contribution to the Literature

  • The research provides valuable insights into the microbial distribution in the reproductive tract of stallions that adds to existing literature in the field.
  • The findings lend themselves to a better understanding of stallion health and fertility, and how the microbial presence may affect these.

Cite This Article

APA
Rota A, Calicchio E, Nardoni S, Fratini F, Ebani VV, Sgorbini M, Panzani D, Camillo F, Mancianti F. (2011). Presence and distribution of fungi and bacteria in the reproductive tract of healthy stallions. Theriogenology, 76(3), 464-470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.02.023

Publication

Theriogenology
ISSN: 1879-3231
NlmUniqueID: 0421510
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 76
Issue: 3
Pages: 464-470

Researcher Affiliations

Rota, A
  • Dipartimento di Clinica Veterinaria, Università di Pisa, San Piero a Grado (PI), Italy. alerota@vet.unipi.it
Calicchio, E
    Nardoni, S
      Fratini, F
        Ebani, V V
          Sgorbini, M
            Panzani, D
              Camillo, F
                Mancianti, F

                  MeSH Terms

                  • Animals
                  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
                  • Colony Count, Microbial / veterinary
                  • Fungi / isolation & purification
                  • Horses / microbiology
                  • Male
                  • Penis / microbiology
                  • Semen / microbiology
                  • Urethra / microbiology

                  Citations

                  This article has been cited 10 times.
                  1. Malaluang P, Niazi A, Guo Y, Nagel C, Guimaraes T, Rocha A, Aurich C, Morrell JM. Bacterial diversity in semen from stallions in three European countries evaluated by 16S sequencing. Vet Res Commun 2024 Jun;48(3):1409-1421.
                    doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10321-3pubmed: 38305959google scholar: lookup
                  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).
                    doi: 10.3390/ani14020179pubmed: 38254348google scholar: lookup
                  3. Tyrnenopoulou P, Fthenakis GC. Clinical Aspects of Bacterial Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance in the Reproductive System of Equids. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Mar 28;12(4).
                    doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12040664pubmed: 37107026google scholar: lookup
                  4. Ciornei ȘG, Drugociu D, Roşca P. Candida Genus Maximum Incidence in Boar Semen Even after Preservation, Is It Not a Risk for AI though?. Molecules 2022 Nov 3;27(21).
                    doi: 10.3390/molecules27217539pubmed: 36364363google scholar: lookup
                  5. Malaluang P, Wilén E, Lindahl J, Hansson I, Morrell JM. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equine Reproduction. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 22;11(11).
                    doi: 10.3390/ani11113035pubmed: 34827768google scholar: lookup
                  6. Ciornei Ş, Drugociu D, Ciornei LM, Mareş M, Roşca P. Total Aseptization of Boar Semen, to Increase the Biosecurity of Reproduction in Swine. Molecules 2021 Oct 13;26(20).
                    doi: 10.3390/molecules26206183pubmed: 34684764google scholar: lookup
                  7. Quiñones-Pérez C, Hidalgo M, Ortiz I, Crespo F, Vega-Pla JL. Characterization of the seminal bacterial microbiome of healthy, fertile stallions using next-generation sequencing. Anim Reprod 2021;18(2):e20200052.
                    doi: 10.1590/1984-3143-AR2020-0052pubmed: 34394753google scholar: lookup
                  8. Ma X, Li C, Hou J, Gu Y. Isolation and identification of culturable fungi from the genitals and semen of healthy giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). BMC Vet Res 2017 Nov 21;13(1):344.
                    doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-1231-0pubmed: 29157237google scholar: lookup
                  9. Gibb Z, Aitken RJ. The Impact of Sperm Metabolism during In Vitro Storage: The Stallion as a Model. Biomed Res Int 2016;2016:9380609.
                    doi: 10.1155/2016/9380609pubmed: 26881234google scholar: lookup
                  10. Macura AB, Skóra M. 21-year retrospective study of the prevalence of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in patients suspected of superficial mycoses. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2015 Jun;32(3):189-94.
                    doi: 10.5114/pdia.2014.40965pubmed: 26161060google scholar: lookup
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