The addition of wild lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from small ruminant prepuce negatively affects the viability of Mycoplama agalactiae in diluted ram semen
The impact of Mycoplasma agalactiae on small ruminants' reproduction and its male genital tropism is known, representing a potential risk for transmission via natural mating and artificial insemination. The increase of antibiotic resistance and the known negative impact on sperm quality highlight the need for alternatives to conventional antibiotics in semen diluents. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against M. agalactiae in goat milk. The present in vitro study evaluates the antimicrobial effect of wild LAB strain from caprine prepuce and a commercial human probiotic (L3) composed by Lactobacillus spp. against M. agalactiae, and evaluates their impact on sperm quality, DNA fragmentation, and describes the bacterial communities present in the studied conditions. From the 169 strains, one preputial wild strain (P65) and L3 were tested to assess its antimicrobial potential against M. agalactiae in seminal dose. The strain P65, identified as Enterococcus hirae, significantly reduced M. agalactiae concentration from 7.202 to 0.000 log CFU/mL (p < 0.001), and L3 from 6.872 to 2.699 log CFU/mL (p < 0.001), with P65 causing a greater M. agalactiae inhibition and pH reduction over 15 hours of incubation (p < 0.001). No negative effects on sperm quality or DNA fragmentation were observed with LAB addition. Metabarcoding analyse demonstrate that Actinobacillus, Lactobacillus, and Staphylococcus were the dominant genera in the seminal doses studied. This study is the first in vitro report of the antimicrobial potential of male reproductive LAB against M. agalactiae. Our results suggest a possible alternative to antibiotics for controlling contagious agalactia in ovine and caprine herds. Further studies are necessary to assess the P65 potential use for in vivo applications.
The impact of Mycoplasma agalactiae on small ruminants' reproduction and its male genital tropism is known, representing a potential risk for transmission via natural mating and artificial insemination. The increase of antibiotic resistance and the known negative impact on sperm quality highlight the need for alternatives to conventional antibiotics in semen diluents. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against M. agalactiae in goat milk. The present in vitro study evaluates the antimicrobial effect of wild LAB strain from caprine prepuce and a commercial human probiotic (L3) composed by Lactobacillus spp. against M. agalactiae, and evaluates their impact on sperm quality, DNA fragmentation, and describes the bacterial communities present in the studied conditions. From the 169 strains, one preputial wild strain (P65) and L3 were tested to assess its antimicrobial potential against M. agalactiae in seminal dose. The strain P65, identified as Enterococcus hirae, significantly reduced M. agalactiae concentration from 7.202 to 0.000 log CFU/mL (p < 0.001), and L3 from 6.872 to 2.699 log CFU/mL (p < 0.001), with P65 causing a greater M. agalactiae inhibition and pH reduction over 15 hours of incubation (p < 0.001). No negative effects on sperm quality or DNA fragmentation were observed with LAB addition. Metabarcoding analyse demonstrate that Actinobacillus, Lactobacillus, and Staphylococcus were the dominant genera in the seminal doses studied. This study is the first in vitro report of the antimicrobial potential of male reproductive LAB against M. agalactiae. Our results suggest a possible alternative to antibiotics for controlling contagious agalactia in ovine and caprine herds. Further studies are necessary to assess the P65 potential use for in vivo applications.
Microomics Systems S.L.