Antibacterial Activity of Some Molecules Added to Rabbit Semen Extender as Alternative to Antibiotics

Abstract

Although great attention is paid to hygiene during semen collection and processing, bacteria are commonly found in the semen of healthy fertile males of different species. As the storage of extended semen might facilitate bacterial growth, extenders are commonly supplemented with antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), bestatin and chitosan-based nanoparticles added to rabbit semen extender and their effect on reproductive performance under field conditions. Four different extenders were tested, supplemented with antibiotics (TCG+AB), with EDTA and bestatin (EB), with EDTA, bestatin and chitosan-based nanoparticles (QEB) or without antibiotics (TCG-AB). Extended semen was cooled at 15 °C for three days. Cooled samples were examined for bacterial growth and semen quality every 24 h for 3 days. The enterobacteria count increased considerably during storage at 72 h in semen extended with TCG+AB and TCG-AB, while extenders EB and QEB showed a bacteriostatic effect over time. After 24, 48 and 72 h, quality characteristics were retained in all groups, with no significant motility differences, either in acrosome integrity, membrane functionality or the viability of spermatozoa. Additionally, bacterial concentration present in fresh semen did not affect reproductive performance. In conclusion, EDTA and bestatin exerted a potent bacteriostatic effect over time and could be used as an alternative to conventional antibiotics in rabbit semen extenders.

Antimicrobially Active Semen Extenders Allow the Reduction of Antibiotic Use in Pig Insemination

“…Antimicrobial side-effects of enriched extender media may apply, perhaps in synergism with EDTA, a basic component of the semen extender [ 20 ]. Such a synergism could induce antimicrobial activity with non-antibiotic active molecules [ 29 ], as recently described for the synergetic antimicrobial effect of EDTA with the aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin in extended rabbit semen [ 30 ].…”

Comparative effectiveness of different methods of using the analogue of gonadotropin-releasing hormone for ovulation stimulation in rabbit does

“…Для індукції овуляції у кролиць використовується, як правило, внутрішньом'язове введення аналогів ГнРГ, хоча інтравагінальний шлях вважають менш стресовим способом, орієнтованим на благополуччя, що має переваги, оскільки є неінвазивним і скорочує час обробки (Gupta et al, 2011;Jitendra et al, 2011;Viudes-de-Castro et al, 2021). Тим не менш, вагінальна абсорбція синтетичних аналогів ГнРГ менш ефективна, ніж при парентеральному введенні, а біодоступність їх становить близько 20 % (Vicente et al, 2011;Anderson et al, 2018).…”

Strategies for Bacterial Eradication from Human and Animal Semen Samples: Current Options and Future Alternatives

“…However, it is not known how the nanoparticles would affect the recipients’ genitalia and embryo production. Finally, chitosan-nanoparticles, combined with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and bestatin, provided a bacteriostatic effect against Enterobacteriaceae without damaging rabbit spermatozoa stored at 15 °C for 72 h [ 84 ].…”