Studies on the possible occurrence of mycoplasmas in boar semen

Having regard to the possibility that semen from conventional animals at the five Danish boar centres for artificial insemination may be used for insemination in SPF herds, raw semen from these boars (169) was examined for mycoplasmas. In addition, nasal swab samples and blood samples from 10 animals per centre were examined, respectively for mycoplasmas and antibodies against M. suipneumoniae and M. flocculare. Although the latter examinations gave evidence of a wide distribution of mycoplasmas, such were in no case recovered from raw semen. It hereafter appears that boars do not usually excrete mycoplasmas with semen, even if carrying the infection in the respiratory tract.