Special Issue "New Strategies for the Use of Antibiotics in Animal Reproduction"
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Reproduction".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2021.
Special Issue Editors
Interests: gene expression; embryos; animal reproduction; animal genetics; molecular genetics; molecular oncology
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Interests: microbiology; bacteria; antimicrobial resistance; antibiotic alternatives; reproduction; cryopreservaction; probiotics; pigs
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The use of antimicrobials in the different reproductive techniques used for animal reproduction is common. The addition of antibiotics in the seminal doses used for artificial insemination, antibiotic treatments after the use of vaginal synchronization techniques, among others, are common practices in domestic animal species. However, the European Union recommends limiting the use of these molecules to avoid the appearance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In fact, one of the objectives of the Regulation (EU) 2019/6 on veterinary drugs is to strengthen the campaign against antimicrobial resistance. On the other hand, the One Health concept shows that the fight against AMR must be carried out from all areas of health, including animal health. In this way, limiting and promoting alternatives to the use of antibiotics in reproductive techniques, among others, is one of the objectives that we must achieve in the coming decades. The objective of this Special Issue is to publish research articles or original reviews on possible alternatives to the use of antimicrobials in animal reproduction.
Area of interest: alternative treatments to the use of antimicrobials in different reproductive techniques, bacterial contamination in seminal doses, estrus synchronization methods, such as the use of vaginal devices, etc., the search for effective probiotics, the use and effectivity of probiotics, and natural treatments.
We invite you to share your recent findings through this special Issue.
Dr. María Dolores Llobat Bordes
Dr. Estrella Jiménez-Trigos
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
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Keywords
- antibiotics
- animal reproduction
- probiotics
- microbiology contamination
- artificial insemination
- reproduction techniques
- antibiotic treatments
Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
Title: Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria Isolation from Porcine Raw Semen and Its Relationship with Seminal Quality
Authors: Estrella Jiménez-Trigos; Lola Llobat; Esther Bataller; Jesús Gomis
Affiliation: Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Uni-versities, Carrer Tirant lo Blanc 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain
Abstract: Background: Artificial insemination in swine is the most widely used breeding technique in pig producing countries. During semen collection, as well as during the subsequent processing of the seminal doses, bacterial contamination is frequent. The use of antibiotics in extenders is necessary in pigs since their components and the temperature at which doses are stored, promote the growth of different microorganisms, which affect the viability of sperm. However, the development of antimicrobial resistance to one or more of the antibiotics used makes the search for alternatives to the use of antibiotics crucial. The main objective of this paper was the isolation of different types of bacteria and to determine if the counts of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Bifidobacteria in the ejaculates of the boards were related to the total bacterial counts and Enterobacteriaceae. Furthermore, the effect of these counts on the seminal quality of the ejaculate was evaluated; (2) Methods: A total of boards ejaculates from two genetic lines, Duroc and Pietrain, were analyzed and LAB, Bifidobacteria and Enterobacteria were isolated and counted; (3) Results: Results obtained showed that the collection process of the seminal samples is not sterile and LAB, Bifidobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, among others, were isolated. However, higher LAB or Bifidobacteria count were not associated with lower total bacterial counts, or Enterobacteria. Regarding the evaluation of the seminal parameters, higher bacterial counts were associated with a higher percentage of sperm with abnormal acrosomes. However, the negative effects that bacteria have on semen quality are aggravated depending on the bacterial species present and its correlation with incubation time; (4) Conclusions: Higher LAB counted were not associated with lower total bacterial counts, but higher bacterial counts were associated with a higher percentage of sperm with abnormal acrosomes. More studies are needed to evaluate the interaction between the seminal microbiota and the seminal quality so that it can be used as an alternative to the use of antibiotics in the seminal doses.
Title: Feasibility of Chemical Cauterization as an Alternative Therapy for Seminal Vesiculitis in Stallions
Authors: Verônica F.C. Scheerena*, M.L.M. Gobatoa, Y.F.R. Sancler-Silvab, T.M.S. Cavaleroa, C.E. Fonseca-Alvesa, L.E.F. Canutoa, L.T. Rodriguesa, C.P. Freitas-Dell’Aquaa, J.A. Dell’Aqua Jr.a, John P. Kastelicc, Frederico O. Papaa
Affiliation: aSão Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Botucatu, SP, Brazil bFederal University of Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, MG, Brazil cUniversity of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Calgary, AB, Canada *Corresponding author.
Abstract: Regarding seminal vesiculitis in stallions, our objectives were to: 1) induce seminal vesiculitis and monitor its development; 2) promote a chemical cauterization of the affected seminal vesicles by local infusion of 30% metacresolsulfonic acid and formaldehyde solution (Lotagen®); and 3) evaluate seminal vesicles and semen quality before and after treatment. In three stallions, endoscopy was used to induce seminal vesiculitis by delivering a saline solution containing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 8 wk later was used to deliver 60 mL of Lotagen® as an alternative therapy. Endoscopic evaluations were done weekly, from 1 wk before experimental infection to 7 wk after treatment. There were changes in semen color in 3/3 stallions, whereas ejaculate volume, concentration and sperm motility had variations (2/3), reducing percentage of neutrophils in semen and oscillations in plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity (3/3). Bacterial culture of semen 7 wk after treatment was negative (2/3), although one stallion was culture positive for Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus and developed bilateral epididymitis. Ultrasonographically, seminal vesicles had variable size, quantity and characteristic of contents during the experiment. Based on endoscopy, after vesiculitis was induced, seminal vesicles had purulent material, whereas after treatment, there was partial occlusion of glands (2/3) and mucosal fibrosis (1/3). Seminal vesicles before infection had simple columnar epithelium, but after infection had atrophy associated with intense mononuclear inflammation (3/3). Four weeks after treatment, a fibromuscular stroma with mild inflammation (2/3) and epithelial dysplasia with mononuclear and polymorphonuclear inflammation (1/3) were observed. In conclusion, we believe that local infusion of 30% Lotagen® solution is feasible and may result in chemical cauterization of the infected glands. This study provides a basis for further investigation of the efficacy of metacresolsulfonic acid and formaldehyde solution in cauterizing an infected seminal vesicle of stallions with seminal vesiculitis and more studies are needed to adjust the drug concentration, in order to avoid undesirable effects.