Lohmann Brown Rooster Semen: Intrinsic Bacteria and Their Impact on Sperm Progressive Motility and Seminal Biochemical Parameters—A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Semen quality plays a crucial role in poultry production; however, it may be impaired by the presence of numerous bacterial species. This study researched the impact of bacterial contamination of Lohmann brown rooster semen on the biochemical parameters of seminal plasma to evaluate its potential consequences on the sperm progressive motility. Semen was collected from 27 stud roosters, and the sperm concentration and progressive motility were measured using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Seminal plasma was separated, and selected biochemical parameters were measured using commercially available assays. An aliquot of each semen sample was cultured, the colonies were counted and the MALDI Biotyper was used for bacterial identification. The samples were divided into three categories based on their sperm progressive motility and the data were compared and statistically evaluated. Moreover, Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed. The results showed that the lower the sperm progressive motility, the higher the level of colony-forming units. Moreover, sperm concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group with the highest bacterial occurrence and the lowest proportion of progressively motile spermatozoa. Calcium, magnesium, creatinine, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase, and total proteins significantly changed in semen samples with the lowest proportion of progressive motility. In conclusion, seminal plasma biochemistry may mirror changes occurring in semen as a result of bacterial presence in the reproductive tract of poultry.