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Translational animal science2019; 3(4); 1513-1520; doi: 10.1093/tas/txz115

Technical Note: The use of iSperm technology for on-farm measurement of equine sperm motility and concentration.

Abstract: The iSperm is a newly released semen analysis tool from Aidmics Biotechnology Co. LTD, which allows an iPad Mini to be transformed into a handheld microscope with objective semen analysis software for equine available through the Apple Store (version 4.5.2). The aim of this study was to compare iSperm values for sperm motility and sperm concentration to current acceptable methods for semen analysis and to determine the agreement with these methods using statistical methods. Two ejaculates from each of five Standardbred stallions were used to compare sperm motility (computer-assisted semen analysis [CASA] vs. iSperm) and concentration (NucleoCounter SP-100 [NC] vs. hemocytometer vs. iSperm). Data were analyzed by first testing for the differences between the means of each method using a linear mixed-effects model. The agreement between the two continuous measurements for each method was then investigated by computing Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), with a value of 1 indicating perfect agreement between methods. Results are reported as the CCC with the associated 95% confidence interval in parentheses. Means for both total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) were equal between CASA and iSperm values (P = 0.0741 and P = 0.725, respectively). However, means for all velocity measurements were significantly different between CASA and iSperm readings (P < 0.001). For concentration, means were equal between NC and iSperm values (P = 0.748) and for hemocytometer and iSperm values (P = 0.953). The CCC for TM was 0.871 (0.788, 0.923) and for PM was 0.916 (0.847, 0.955) indicating good agreement between methods. Low levels of agreement were observed for all velocity measurements. Finally, the CCC for concentration compared by iSperm and NC was 0.970 (0.949, 0.982) and for iSperm and hemocytometer it was 0.962 (0.934, 0.978), both close to the line of perfect concordance. Although more work is needed to improve the iSperm software for velocity measurements to be acceptable by research standards, in its present form the iSperm will introduce a low-cost and affordable method for on-farm semen analysis (TM, PM, concentration) for breeders and veterinarians. As a result, more farms will have access to accurate sperm analysis tools which will help to standardize semen processing procedures leading to better overall quality of semen used for artificial insemination.
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2019-08-15 PubMed ID: 32704914PubMed Central: PMC7200496DOI: 10.1093/tas/txz115Google 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 study explores the efficacy of the iSperm tool, a newly developed technology, in assessing sperm motility and concentration in stallions. The findings indicate good agreement between the iSperm and traditional semen analysis methods for these parameters, suggesting that the tool may be a low-cost and practical alternative for on-farm semen analysis.

Study Objectives

The aim of the study was to:

  • Compare the values produced by iSperm for sperm motility and concentration against those obtained through other accepted semen analysis methods.
  • Determine the statistical agreement between iSperm measurements and those from traditional methods.

Research Methodology

The researchers:

  • Collected two ejaculates from each of five Standardbred stallions.
  • Compared iSperm measurements of sperm motility and concentration against those from two other methods: computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) and NucleoCounter SP-100 (NC) for motility, and hemocytometer for concentration.
  • Used a statistical approach involving a linear mixed-effects model to test for differences between the means of each method.
  • Calculated Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) to indicate the level of agreement between the measurements for each method.

Key Findings

The significant outcomes of the study were:

  • The means for both total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) were equal between CASA and iSperm values.
  • All velocity measurements showed a significant difference between CASA and iSperm readings.
  • The means for sperm concentration were equal between NC and iSperm, and between hemocytometer and iSperm.
  • The CCC for TM and PM indicated good agreement between methods.
  • Low levels of agreement were observed for velocity measurements.
  • The CCC for sperm concentration determined by iSperm and NC, as well as by iSperm and hemocytometer, nearly reached the line of perfect concordance.

Conclusion

The research suggests that while more work is needed to improve the iSperm software for velocity measurements, the tool’s current form can be used as a low-cost, convenient method for semen analysis, specifically for assessing TM, PM and sperm concentration. The iSperm technology could improve access to accurate sperm analysis tools, contributing to the standardization of semen processing procedures and improving the quality of semen used for artificial insemination.

Cite This Article

APA
Moraes CR, Runcan EE, Blawut B, Coutinho da Silva MA. (2019). Technical Note: The use of iSperm technology for on-farm measurement of equine sperm motility and concentration. Transl Anim Sci, 3(4), 1513-1520. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txz115

Publication

Translational animal science
ISSN: 2573-2102
NlmUniqueID: 101738705
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 3
Issue: 4
Pages: 1513-1520

Researcher Affiliations

Moraes, Christa R
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Runcan, Erin E
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Blawut, Bryan
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Coutinho da Silva, Marco A
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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