Microorganisms that inhabit the avian cloaca usually contaminate poultry semen which could easily spread throughout an entire flock. This study was conducted to determine the presence of microbial contaminants in turkey semen and evaluate their antibiotic sensitivity. Semen was collected from each tom, pooled and then divided into two aliquots A and B. Aliquot A was immediately  evaluated for microbial contaminants and antibiotic sensitivity while aliquot B, was extended and preserved for 24 hours at 40 C and thereafter microbial culture, identification and antibiotic sensitivity were conducted. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacteria species and a fungal organism Candida albican were isolated and identified in both aliquots. All the identified organisms were sensitive to pefloxacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, while Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacteria species were resistant to Ampicillin-cloxacillin, cefuroxime, amoxicillin and ceftriaxone. Escherichia coli was only resistant to co-trimoxazole, ofloxacin and nalidixic acid. The study concludes that, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus foecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacteria species and Candida albican were found to be turkey semen contaminants and were resistant to penicillin and streptomycin combination in turkey semen extender but sensitive to pefloxacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. Key words: Microbial contaminants, turkey semen, extender, antibiotic sensitivity

No abstract

In vitro embryo production in cats and dogs still presents some challenges, and it needs to be optimized to transfer efficient protocols to related wild, endangered species. While the chemical composition of culture media has been the focus of several studies, the importance of culture substrates for oocyte and embryo culture has often been neglected. Traditional in vitro systems, i.e., two-dimensional cultures, do not resemble the physiological environments where cells develop, and they may cause morphological and functional alterations to oocytes and embryos. More modern three-dimensional and microfluidic culture system better mimic the structure and the stimuli found in in vivo conditions, and they could better support the development of oocytes and embryos in vitro, as well as the maintenance of more physiological behaviors. This review describes the different culture systems tested for domestic carnivore reproductive cells along the years, and it summarizes their effects on cultured cells with the purpose of analyzing innovative options to improve in vitro embryo production outcomes.

Populations of many galliform species have declined mainly due to habitat loss and over-hunting, notably the Congo peacock, which has been classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The domestic turkey, being a species of least concern, which has been reported to be closely related to peacocks, could serve as a model for the optimization of assisted reproductive technologies for the Congo peacock. This study was aimed at developing a suitable turkey semen extender for artificial insemination in field conditions. Semen was collected using the dorso-abdominal massage technique from seven turkey toms and analyzed. Ejaculates with >70% motility and >80% live spermatozoa were pooled and divided into four aliquots (four treatments). Each of the four treatments was extended in a soybean-based extender or an egg yolk-based extender, with or without L-ascorbic acid. Two liquid preservation protocols (ambient temperature (35 °C) and chilled (4 °C)) were employed, and quality parameters including motility, viability and morphology were evaluated. The results show that the two extenders were similar with regard to semen quality parameters, and L-ascorbic acid supplementation of the turkey semen extenders improved semen quality during liquid storage.