In Vitro Performance and in Vivo Fertility of Antibiotic-free Preserved Boar Semen Stored at 5 °C

Overview

Journal J Anim Sci Biotechnol

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2021 Jan 11

PMID 33423688

Citations 15

Authors

Helen Jakel

Kathi Scheinpflug

Kristin Muhldorfer

Rafael Gianluppi

Matheus Schardong Lucca

Ana Paula Goncalves Mellagi

Fernando Pandolfo Bortolozzo

Dagmar Waberski

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Hypothermic preservation of boar semen is considered a potential method for omitting antibiotics from insemination doses, thereby contributing to the global antibiotic resistance defence strategy. The main challenges are chilling injury to spermatozoa and bacterial growth during semen storage leading to reduced fertility.

Objectives: To examine chilling injury and the number and type of bacteria in boar semen stored at 5 °C in the absence of antibiotics, and to assess the applicability of hypothermic semen storage under field conditions.

Material And Methods: Boar ejaculates were extended with AndroStar® Premium, stored at 17 °C with and at 5 °C without antibiotics and tested for functional sperm parameters by flow cytometry. Raw semen and extended samples were investigated bacteriologically. Fertility was evaluated after once-daily inseminations of 194 sows in a field study.

Results: Lethal sperm damage assessed by motility and membrane integrity was low throughout storage in both experimental groups. Sublethal chilling effects based on the decrease of viable spermatozoa with low membrane fluidity were higher (P < 0.05) up until 72 h in sperm stored at 5 °C compared to 17 °C but did not differ after 144 h. After 72 h, incubation in capacitating medium for 60 min induced a similar decrease in viable sperm with high mitochondria membrane potential and low cytosolic calcium in both groups. In semen stored at 5 °C, bacteria counts were below 10 CFU/mL and the bacteria spectrum was similar to that of raw semen. In 88% of 34 boars, cooled semen fulfilled the requirements for insemination. Fertility was high and did not differ (P > 0.05) between sow groups inseminated with semen stored antibiotic-free at 5 °C and semen stored at 17 °C with antibiotics.

Conclusion: Despite subtle chilling effects and low bacterial numbers, antibiotic-free hypothermic storage of boar semen offers the possibility to reduce the use of antibiotics in pig insemination. However, strict sanitary guidelines must be maintained and further evidence of efficiency under field conditions is considered desirable.

Citing Articles

Sperm quality and fertilizing ability of boar spermatozoa stored at 4 °C versus conventional storage for 1 week.

Hallberg I, Morrell J, Malaluang P, Johannisson A, Sjunnesson Y, Laskowski D Front Vet Sci. 2024; 11:1444550.

PMID: 39376925 PMC: 11457738. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1444550.

Update of the cooling protocol for antibiotic-free storage of boar semen at 5°C improves sperm quality and maintains low bacterial counts.

Luther A, Nguyen T, Verspohl J, Waberski D PLoS One. 2024; 19(6):e0305280.

PMID: 38865384 PMC: 11168697. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305280.

The Effect of Antimicrobial Peptide (PA-13) on Carrying Antibiotic-Resistant Genes Isolated from Boar Semen.

Keeratikunakorn K, Aunpad R, Ngamwongsatit N, Kaeoket K Antibiotics (Basel). 2024; 13(2).

PMID: 38391525 PMC: 10886091. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13020138.

Storage of boar semen at 17°C without conventional antibiotics in an extender containing an organic bactericidal substance.

Luther A, Nguyen T, Verspohl J, Waberski D Front Vet Sci. 2023; 10:1294903.

PMID: 38076550 PMC: 10699307. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1294903.

The multidrug-resistant strain: a hidden threat in boar semen preservation.

Xiong Z, Hong Z, Li X, Gao D, Wang L, Liu S Front Microbiol. 2023; 14:1279630.

PMID: 37869660 PMC: 10588451. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1279630.

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