title: Semen characteristics and refrigeration in free-ranging giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).
abstract: The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is considered vulnerable to extinction. Scientific data on the reproductive parameters of this species are scarce. Semen from eight free-ranging giant anteaters was collected to establish its characteristics and the effects of cooling and storage at 5 °C after dilution with the BotuCrio extender without cryoprotectant. The ejaculate presented two distinct sequential fractions, including a whitish fraction, which was milky and rich in sperm cells, and a gel fraction, which was colorless, viscous, and azoospermic. The mean ± standard error of the mean values of the seminal characteristics were as follows: volume of the first fraction, 0.75 ± 0.1 mL; motility, 75 ± 2.9%; vigor, 3.2 ± 0.3; sperm motility index, 68.8 ± 4.3; concentration, 108.5 ± 13.4 × 10(6)/mL; plasma membrane integrity index, 71 ± 4.0%; spermatic defects detected using modified Karras staining, 35.5 ± 3.3%; and spermatic alterations identified by differential interference contrast microscopy, 48.3 ± 6.8%. During refrigeration, the semen presented decreasing motility from 0 to 18 hours, sperm motility index decreased from 0 to 24 hours, and vigor did not change in the first 6 hours and then decreased to 18 hours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila do Nascimento
authors.initials: Cdo N
authors.lastname: Luba
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yatta Linhares
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Boakari
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Anteaters Research and Conservation Institute, Projeto Tamanduá, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Martins
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Costa Lopes
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Anteaters Research and Conservation Institute, Projeto Tamanduá, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: da Silva Gomes
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Anteaters Research and Conservation Institute, Projeto Tamanduá, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia Regina
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Frederico Ozanan
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: jcferreira@fmvz.unesp.br.
authors.forename: João Carlos Pinheiro
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D012034:Refrigeration; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004490:Xenarthra / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Electroejaculation; In situ; Myrmecophagidae; Pilosa; Reproduction; Xenarthra