title: Bull semen variables after experimental exposure with Bovine Herpesvirus type 5.
abstract: The influence of Bovine Herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) infection on semen variables and sperm morphology collected from healthy bulls with no reproductive disorder was evaluated in ten ejaculates distributed into two experimental groups: group I, bull semen exposed to 10(2.3) (tissue culture infectious dose) TCID(50)/50 μl of a Brazilian strain of BoHV-5 (US9/BR/2007; GU9457818) and group II, unexposed bull control semen. After experimental infection, the semen was frozen-thawed prior to computerized analysis (CASA) of sperm motility and movement. Also analyzed were sperm phosphatidylserine transposition, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial function, plasma membrane integrity and Annexin V expression. Viable BoHV-5 particles and their DNA were detected in infected semen after virus isolation and in situ hybridization (ISH) assay. The ISH revealed the BoHV-5 US9 gene in the acrosome and tail of infected spermatozoa. The only remarkable differences between groups I and II were the sperm kinetic variables, whereby infected sperm had a lesser mean velocity (VAP) and curvilinear velocity (VCL) values as compared to controls (P≤0.05). However, the straightness coefficient (STR) and beat cross frequency (BCF) values were higher in infected sperm. These results indicate that BoHV-5 can be found in infected sperm but induces no functional and morphological damage even after freeze-thawing, and, importantly, BoHV-5 can be spread via in vitro and in vivo reproductive biotechnology procedures.
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State, 16050-680, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego Gouveia
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silva-Frade
authors.forename: Alicio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Tereza C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D005615:Freezing; D025881:Herpesvirus 5, Bovine; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility