Bacteriological Studies of Bovine Semen. II. The Incidence of Specific Types of Bacteria and the Relation to Fertility

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Abstract
The incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, coliform organisms and streptococci was detd. in undiluted semen from bulls used for artificial breeding. A classification of the predominant types of bacteria present in semen also was made according to morph. and biochem. characteristics. P. aeruginosa was confirmed in semen samples from both fertile and relatively infertile bulls. Although the presence of this organism even in numbers of at least 1000 per ml. was not indicative of level of fertility, its consistent presence in semen from infertile bulls indicated that it may be associated with individual cases of infertility. The occasional presence of coliform organisms in semen from bulls at various levels of fertility was associated with high plate counts of the semen. Streptococci were not characteristic of the seminal flora. The predominant organisms in the semen were Gram-positive rods, especially diphtheroids. These organisms were present in greater numbers in. semen from fertile bulls than that of the relatively infertile bulls. Gram-positive micrococci were present next in frequency to the diphtheroidal flora and were found in slightly greater numbers in semen from bulls of low fertility than in bulls of high fertility. The Gram-negative rods encountered appeared as nonpathogenic types commonly present in nature and greater numbers were found in semen from the relatively infertile bulls.

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