Detección de ADN de patógenos en semen de toros de cabaño: relación con parámetros reproductivos

Abstract

El objetivo del estudio fue detectar mediante técnicas moleculares (PCR) la presencia de ADN de agentes pató-genos en muestras de semen fresco y evaluar su relación con los parámetros reproductivos y la fragmentación del ADN de los espermatozoides.

Argentine cattle breeding requires the incorporation of analyses that allow us to reduce the number of unfit bulls in the herds. The objective of the study was to detect the presence of pathogen DNA in fresh semen samples using molec-ular techniques (PCR) and to evaluate its relationship with reproductive parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation. Samples from a group of 24 asymp-tomatic bulls from 18 herds of Buenos Aires and La Pampa provinces were ob-tained. The minimum scrotal circumference value was 33 cm. Twenty-one per-cent of the bulls showed low mating capacity. Ureaplasma diversum DNA was detected in 30.4% and DNA fragmentation was found in 16.6% of the sperma-tozoa. Significant differences were only found when comparing prevalences of Ureaplasma diversum DNA detection and seminal volume (X2 = 8.39 p<0.05). No other studied pathogen DNA was detected. Incorporating techniques that allow us to evaluate seminal quality will allow us to reduce economic losses and the entry of risky genetic material.