Validation of a portable device (iSperm^®) for the assessment of stallion sperm motility and concentration

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a novel, portable device (iSperm® Equine for assessing concentration and motility of stallion semen). In the first experiment, semen concentration was determined by the iSperm® Equine (Aidmics Biotechnology), Androvision® (Minitube) and NucleoCounter® SP‐100™ (ChemoMetec). The total motility and progressive motility were determined by the iSperm® Equine and the Androvision® using the manufacturer's guidelines. Frozen/thawed semen samples (n = 33) at various dilutions were analysed for concentration and motility with the above‐mentioned devices. There was a significant correlation between the concentrations measured with iSperm® and NucleoCounter® at all the measured dilutions. Moreover, <10% difference in concentrations was observed between the iSperm® and NucleoCounter® using the Bland–Altman test. There was also a significant correlation between iSperm® and Androvision® for total and progressive motility. In the second experiment, the parameters used in the Androvision® were modified to match those of the iSperm®. Total motility and progressive motility of frozen/thawed semen samples (n = 10) were determined, and the similarity between the Androvision® and iSperm® was confirmed by correlation studies and Bland–Altman test. The results of these experiments demonstrate that the iSperm® offers a reliable and practical alternative for the semi‐automated measurement of concentration and motility of stallion semen in the field. The iSperm® enables the practitioner to obtain objective and repeatable measurements on a variety of semen types (fresh, cooled and frozen) in the field at the time of insemination and thus acquire more insight into the quantity and quality of the provided insemination doses. This mare‐side diagnostic tool may help practitioners in identifying presumed subfertility problems more rapidly and act accordingly.

Assessment of an iPad-based sperm motility analyzer for determination of canine sperm motility

“…However, similar to our findings, Dini et al (2019) showed high correlations between the iSperm and Nucleocounter SP-100 when measuring semen concentrations in samples on the lower side of the iSperm indicated range. Just as our results identified a strong correlation between CASA and iSperm for the measurement of progressive motility, Dini et al (2019) similarly reported a strong positive correlation between iSperm and Androvision. This demonstrates the utility and accuracy of the iSperm for the portable measurement of progressive motility for different species.…”

“… Dini and colleagues (2019) determined the iSperm for horses had different results on the ability of iSperm for the concentration of a semen sample ( Dini et al, 2019 ). They reported a higher correlation between the iSperm and the Nucleocounter SP-100 and less than 10% difference when measuring semen samples between 20 and 100 M/ml.…”

Effect of egg yolk-based extender and seminal plasma removal on sperm viability of cooled donkey semen

“…Sperm kinetic characteristics, including percentages of total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM), straightline velocity (VSL, μm/s), mean curvilinear velocity (VCL, μm/s), and average path velocity (VAP, μm/s) were analyzed by iSperm  (version 4.5.2; Aidmics Biotechnology Co., LTD, Taiwan) software in fresh and cooled semen, as previously reported (Dini et al, 2019).…”

Sperm Gone Smart: A Portable Device (iSperm®) to Assess Semen Concentration and Motility in Dogs

“…Among them, the software iSperm ® , developed by Aidmics Biotechnology (Taipei City, Taiwan), uses the camera of an iPad Mini 4 (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA) and a heating chamber to capture and analyze multiple videoframes of semen at 37 °C. The iSperm ® software has species-specific settings and its use in stallions [ 14 , 17 ], boars [ 18 ], and stud dogs [ 19 ] has been reported in the literature. This portable tool was found accurate in estimating different semen concentrations when compared with both NucleoCounter ® and hemocytometer in stallions [ 14 , 17 ].…”

“…The iSperm ® software has species-specific settings and its use in stallions [ 14 , 17 ], boars [ 18 ], and stud dogs [ 19 ] has been reported in the literature. This portable tool was found accurate in estimating different semen concentrations when compared with both NucleoCounter ® and hemocytometer in stallions [ 14 , 17 ]. Results for motility assessment were encouraging in stallions and dogs [ 14 , 17 , 19 ], although accuracy in estimating velocity parameters should be improved in stallions [ 14 ].…”