A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA IN SEMEN ON BOVINE FERTILITY

Two experiments were done to demonstrate whether the presence of Pseud omonas aeruginosa in bovine semen could affect fertilization and/or ea rly embryonic development, In the first experiment, superovulated heif ers were inseminated with semen naturally contaminated with P, aerugin osa (ADRI 102) or clean semen and seven day-old embryos were collected nonsurgically, The endometrium of treated heifers appeared more sensi tive to the flush procedures, In experiment 2, heifers were inseminate d at synchronized estrus with semen experimentally contaminated with P , aeruginosa (ADRI 102) and processed in the same way as commercial se men with antibiotics (gentamicin, lincomycin, spectinomycin and tylosi n) or processed without antibiotics added, Embryos were recovered at s laughter seven days later, In general, there was no significant reduct ion in fertility or development of embryos in vitro as a result of rel atively high numbers of P, aeruginosa in bovine semen,