Demonstration and role of mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas in bull semen and the control of Mycoplasma infections in bulls
Jurmanova, K.; Weznik, Z.; Cerna, J.; Mazurova, J.
Archiv für Experimentelle Veterinarmedizin 37(3): 421-428
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9055 PMID: 6615138 Document Number: 202208
In previous studies, examination of more than 3000 bull semen samples revealed mycoplasmas (including ureaplasmas) in 80% of the samples, some of which contained almost 50 000 colony-forming units. In an attempt to prevent the dissemination of mycoplasma infection in cattle herds through insemination, yolk semen extender was supplemented with lincomycin and spectinomycin (LS). Repeated isolation attempts from semen samples from 3 semen-producing centres with a LS content of 800 mu g per ml extended semen revealed no live mycoplasmas, but the number of ureaplasmas was unaffected. On the other hand, LS-treated semen from 2 bulls in an experimental study yielded Mycoplasma bovigenitalium strains resistant to a concentration as high as 37 000 mu g/ml. Consideration is given to mycoplasma isolation from fresh semen, where the results are generally variable and mycoplasma counts are relatively low, from extended semen doses where mycoplasma counts are much higher and from antibiotic-treated semen doses where the antibiotics must be removed before mycoplasma isolation is attempted. PM examination of bulls with semen containing large numbers of mycoplasma and ureaplasma revealed these organisms at various sites of the urogenital tract, where they apparently multiplied and could be excreted.