Invasion of Ureaplasma diversum in bovine spermatozoids.
BACKGROUND
Ureaplasma diversum has been associated with infertility in cows. In bulls, this mollicute colonizes the prepuce and distal portion of the urethra and may infect sperm cells. The aim of this study is to analyze in vitro interaction of U. diversum isolates and ATCC strains with bovine spermatozoids. The interactions were observed by confocal microscopy and the gentamycin internalization assay.


RESULTS
U. diversum were able to adhere to and invade spermatozoids after 30 min of infection. The gentamicin resistance assay confirmed the intracellularity and survival of U. diversum in bovine spermatozoids.


CONCLUSIONS
The intracellular nature of bovine ureaplasma identifies a new difficulty to control the reproductive of these animals.
Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. joti@usp.br.
Melissa
M
Buzinhani
Maurício
M
Yamaguti
Rosângela C
RC
Oliveira
Beatriz A
BA
Cortez
Lucas Miranda
LM
Marques
Gláucia M
GM
Machado-Santelli
Mayra Eo
ME
Assumpção
Jorge
J
Timenetsky