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Bactericidal effects of ozone at nonspermicidal concentrations
C Gradil1, M D Eaglesome, B Stewart
1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Animal Diseases Research Institute, Nepean, Ontario.
Summary
Ozone (O3) effectively reduces bacterial contamination in bovine semen. Careful selection of ozone concentration and exposure time minimizes negative impacts on sperm motility, aiding animal breeders.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Science
- Microbiology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Bacterial contamination of bovine semen poses risks to animal breeding and regulatory compliance.
- Controlling pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter fetus in semen is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of ozone (O3) in eliminating specific bacterial contaminants from bovine semen.
- To determine the impact of ozone treatment on sperm motility.
Main Methods:
- Bovine semen samples were spiked with P. aeruginosa, E. coli, or C. fetus.
- Samples were diluted in milk and exposed to varying concentrations of ozone (5-20 µg/mL) for 3-5 minutes.
- Sperm motility was assessed, and bacterial cultures were performed post-treatment and during cooling.
Main Results:
- Ozone exposure at 5 µg/mL for 2 hours reduced P. aeruginosa and E. coli by 2 logs and C. fetus by 5 logs, with a 20% reduction in sperm motility.
- A concentration of 20 µg/mL of ozone achieved a 4-log reduction in all bacteria but decreased sperm motility by 50%.
Conclusions:
- Ozone treatment can significantly reduce bacterial loads in contaminated bovine semen.
- Optimizing ozone concentration and exposure time is key to balancing pathogen elimination with sperm viability.