Study of an artificial vagina to reduce the microbial contamination of rabbit semen

• Autores: A. Dal Bosco, S. Scuota, C. Castellini, T. Cenci
• Localización: World Rabbit Science, ISSN-e 1989-8886, ISSN 1257-5011, Vol. 4, Nº. 4, 1996, págs. 201-204
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Aim of the work was to evaluate and improve the efficiency of an artificial vagina with a short body which permits to collect semen almost directly into the test-tube (with the least contact with the elastic sheath). At the same time, also the test-tube is not in contact with the sheath. Ten adult hybrid bucks were collected during 10 weeks. The experiment consists of 2 successive phases: 1) analysis of microbial flora naturally present in the semen; 2) evaluation of effect of exogenous contamination. Each time, 2 collections were done, using alternatively the prototype and the standard vagina (as a control) at intervals of 20 minutes (maximum 5 times). Throughout the experiment data were collected, concerning operational activities (ejaculation time and reduced sheath temperature from 45 to 35 ºC), biological quality of semen (volume, sperms concentration, live sperms) and microbial contamination rate (specific and total flora). The results showed that the time employed to collect the semen was not significantly affected by the different models of artificial vagina used. The microbial contamination of the semen collected with the prototype was lower than the other (phase a, b). The number of collections done using the same vagina did not affect biological characteristics of semen whereas increased progressively the microbiological contamination. A reduction of the contamination at the least 40% can be realized when the prototype is used (phase b).