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Role of preputial washing in reducing microbial load and improving bovine semen quality
Authors: Adil Rasool Paray, Mukesh Bhakat, Shabir Ahmad Lone, Tushar Kumar Mohanty, Ranjana Sinha, Javid Ur Rahman, Zahid Bashir Khanday, Ziaullah Danish
Number of views: 406
Quality semen production remains the main focus and objective of semen processing
laboratories throughout the world. Bacterial and other microbial contaminants affect the
semen quality and hence the fertility, and also lead to reproductive disorders as well as lower
conception rates and increased embryonic mortality, abortion and other complications in
females. Microbial contamination affects the semen adversely, by exerting direct spermicidal
effect, formation of reactive oxygen species, toxin production, adherence with spermatozoa,
deriving nutrients and oxygen from the medium and thus competing with spermatozoa for the
factors of growth and normal functioning. Despite hygienic measures, several ubiquitous and
opportunistic microbes find their ways into semen during collection, processing, and storage of
semen, and survive even during freezing. Stringent sanitary precautions are therefore required
at every step of collecting semen and its processing. Preputial cavity is considered as main
source of semen contaminating microorganisms. Flushing the preputial cavity with normal
saline or any suitable liquid combination with antimicrobial activity, prior to semen collection
reduces the microbial load and thereby improves the semen quality.