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Research article2023Peer reviewedOpen access

Low-density colloid centrifugation removes bacteria from boar semen doses after spiking with selected species

Lacalle, E.; Martinez-Martinez, S.; Fernandez-Alegre, E.; Soriano-Ubeda, C.; Morrell, J. M.; Martinez-Pastor, F.

Abstract

Single-layer centrifugation (SLC) with a low-density colloid is an efficient method for removing contaminating microorganisms from boar semen while recovering most spermatozoa from the original sample. This study tested the performance of this technique, using 50-ml tubes, by spiking commercial semen doses prepared without antibiotics with selected bacterial species followed by storage at 17 degrees C. The doses were spiked up to 102/ml CFU (colony forming units) of the bacteria Burkholderia ambifaria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus sim-ulans. The semen was processed by SLC (15 ml of sample and 15 ml of colloid) with the colloid Porcicoll at 20% (P20) and 30% (P30), with a spiked control (CTL) and an unspiked control (CTL0), analyzing microbiology and sperm quality on days 0, 3 and 7. SLC completely removed B. ambifaria and S. simulans, considerably reducing P. aeruginosa and overall contamination (especially P30, similar to 104 CFU/ml of total contamination on day 7, median). Sperm viability was lower in P20 and P30 samples at day 0, with higher cytoplasmic ROS. Still, results were similar in all groups on day 3 and reversed on day 7, indicating a protective effect of SLC (possibly directly by removal of damaged sperm and indirectly because of lower bacterial contamination). Sperm chromatin was affected by the treatment (lower DNA fragmentation and chromatin decondensation) and storage (higher overall condensation on day 7 as per chromomycin A3 and monobromobimane staining). In conclusion, SLC with low-density colloids can remove most bacteria in a controlled contamination design while potentially improving sperm quality and long-term storage at practical temperatures.

Keywords

bacteria; Single-layer centrifugation; Silane-coated silica colloids; Environmental contaminants; Boar semen

Published in

Research in Veterinary Science
2023, Volume: 158, pages: 215-225
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Clinical Science

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.03.024

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122272