Does natural honey act as an alternative to antibiotics in the semen extender for cryopreservation of crossbred ram semen?

Document Type : Full paper (Original article)

Authors

1 Division of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shuhama, Srinagar-190006, Jammu & Kashmir, India

2 Division of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana-132001, India

3 Division of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shuhama, Srinagar-190006, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Abstract

Antibiotics are added to semen extenders to take care of heavy microbial load, however, their continuous use poses a constant threat of developing antibiotic resistance by the common microbes present in the semen. Our hypothesis was that natural honey, having antibacterial activity and rich in fructose could replace the use of antibiotics and fructose in the semen extender. Twenty-four ejaculates from six crossbred rams were obtained and extended with tris-based extender without (control) and with honey at 2.5% (T1), 5% (T2) and 7% (T3). Sperm quality was measured in terms of percentage sperm motility, live sperm count, intact acrosome and hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) reacted spermatozoa. The semen samples at post-thaw were also evaluated for total viable count (colony forming units/ml). At post-thaw, control exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher sperm motility in comparison to T2 and T3. The percent of live sperm count, intact acrosome and HOST reacted spermatozoa were significantly higher (P<0.05) for control than all other treatment groups at post-thaw. Among treatment groups, T1 maintained significantly higher (P<0.05) percentage of live sperm count, intact acrosome and HOST reacted spermatozoa than T2 and T3. The total viable count at post-thaw was significantly lower (P<0.05) for control than all the treatment groups. In conclusion, honey cannot be used as an alternative to antibiotics to take care of heavy microbial load in semen, however, levels up to 2.5% may be supplemented to semen as an energy source.

Keywords


Aljady, AM; Kamaruddin, MY; Jamal, AM and Mohd Yassim, MY (2000). Biochemical study on the efficacy of Malaysian honey on inflicted wounds: an animal model. Med. J. Islamic World Acad. Sci., 13: 125-132.
Althouse, GC; Kuster, CE; Clark, SG and Weisiger, RM (2000). Field investigations of bacterial contaminants and their effects on extended porcine semen. Theriogenology. 53: 1167-1176.
Althouse, GC and Lu, KG (2005). Bacteriospermia in extended porcine semen. Theriogenology. 63: 573-584.
Al-Waili, NS (2004). Investigating the antimicrobial activity of natural honey and its effects on the pathogenic bacterial infections of surgical wounds and conjunctiva. J. Med. Food. 7: 210-222.
Aurongzeb, M and Azim, MK (2011). Antimicrobial properties of natural honey: a review of literature. Pak. J. Biochem. Mol. Biol., 44: 118-124.
Banday, MN; Lone, FA; Rasool, F; Rashid, M and Shikari, A (2017). Use of antioxidants reduce lipid peroxidation and improve quality of crossbred ram sperm during its cryopreservation. Cryobiology. 74: 25-30.
Bohlooli, S; Codden, F; Jang, JP; Razzaghzadeh, S and Bozoglu, S (2012). The effect of different extenders on post-thaw sperm viability, motility and membrane integrity in cryopreserved semen of Zandi ram. J. Basic. Appl. Sci. Res., 2: 1120-1123.
Bolarin Guillen, A (2011). Bacteriology in porcine semen. Avances en Tecnología Porcina (España)., 8: 20-30.
Bussalleu, E; Sancho, S; Briz, MD; Yeste, M and Bonet, S (2017). Do antimicrobial peptides PR-39, PMAP-36 and PMAP-37 have any effect on bacterial growth and quality of liquid-stored boar semen? Theriogenology. 89: 235-243.
Bussalleu, E and Torner, E (2013). Quality improvement of boar seminal doses. In: Bonet, S; Casas, I; Holt, WV and Yeste, M (Eds.), Boar reproduction: fundamentals and new biotechnological trends. (1st Edn.), Heidelberg: Springer. PP: 517-550.
Catry, B; Van Duijkeren, E; Pomba, MC; Greko, C; Moreno, MA; Pyorala, S and Torneke, K (2010). Reflection paper on MRSA in food-producing and companion animals, epidemiology and control options for human and animal health. Epidemiol. Infect., 138: 626-644.
El-Nattat, WS; El-Sheshtawy, RI; El-Batawy, KA; Shahba, MI and El-Seadawy, IE (2016). Preservability of buffalo bull semen in tris-citrate extender enriched with bee’s honey. J. Innov. Pharm. Biol. Sci., 3: 180-185.
El-Sheshtawy, RI; El-Badry, DA; Gamal, A; El-Nattat, WS and Almaaty, AMA (2016). Natural honey as a cryoprotectant to improve Arab stallion post-thawing sperm parameters. Asian Pac. J. Reprod., 5: 331-334.
El-Sheshtawy, RI; El-Nattat, WS; Sabra, HA and Ali, AH (2014). Effect of honey solution on semen preservability of local breeds of cattle bulls. World Appl. Sci. J., 32: 2076-2078.
Fakhrildin, MB; Rana, MR and Alsaadi, AR (2014). Honey supplementation to semen-freezing medium improves human sperm parameters post-thawing. J. Family Reprod. Health. 8: 27-31.
Gundogan, M (2009). Short term preservation of ram semen with different extenders. Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergis., 15: 429-435.
Hossain, M; Johannisson, A; Wallgren, M; Nagy, S; Siqueira, AP and Rodriguez-Martinez, H (2011). Flow cytometry for the assessment of animal sperm integrity and functionality, state of the art. Asian J. Androl., 13: 406-419.
Islam, R; Ahmed, K and Deka, BC (2006). Effect of holding and washing on the quality of goat semen. Small Rumin. Res., 66: 51-57.
Jerez-Ebensperger, RA; Luno, V; Olaciregui, M; Gonzalez, N; de Blas, I and Gil, L (2015). Effect of pasteurized egg yolk and rosemary honey supplementation on quality of cryopreserved ram semen. Small Rumin. Res., 130: 153-156.
Kuster, CE and Althouse, GC (2016). The impact of bacteriospermia on boar sperm storage and reproductive performance. Theriogenology. 85: 21-26.
Kwakman, PH and Zaat, SA (2012). Antibacterial com-ponents of honey. IUBMB life. 64: 48-55.
Lone, FA; Islam, R; Khan, MZ and Sofi, KA (2012). Effect of different egg yolk-based extenders on the quality of ovine cauda epididymal spermatozoa during storage at 4°C. Reprod. Domest. Anim., 47: 257-262.
Maes, D; Nauwynck, H; Rijsselaere, T; Mateusen, B; Vyt, P; de Kruif, A and Van Soom, A (2008). Diseases in swine transmitted by artificial insemination: an overview. Theriogenology. 70: 1337-1345.
Molan, PC (1992). The antibacterial activity of honey. 2—Variation in the potency of the antibacterial activity. Bee World. 73: 59-76.
Molan, PC and Russell, KM (1988). Non-peroxide anti-bacterial activity in some New Zealand honeys. J. Apic. Res., 27: 62-67.
Morrell, JM and Wallgren, M (2011). Removal of bacteria from boar ejaculates by Single Layer Centrifugation can reduce the use of antibiotics in semen extenders. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 123: 64-69.
Morrell, JM and Wallgren, M (2014). Alternatives to antibiotics in semen extenders, a review. Pathogens. 3: 934-946.
Nayik, GA; Dar, BN and Nanda, V (2015). Physico-chemical, rheological and sugar profile of different unifloral honeys from Kashmir valley of India. Arab. J. Chem., (In press) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2015.08. 017.
NDDB (2012). National Dairy Plan Phase I. Manual on. Semen Production. Project Implementation Plan. Vol. IV C. Project Management Unit. (Located in NDDB) 2012. Available from: http://www.nddb.coop/ndpi/English/ AboutNDPI/Manuals-Guidelines/PDFDocuments/PIP-Vol-IV-C-Manual-on-Semen-Production.pdf.
Olayemi, FO; Adeniji, DA and Oyeyemi, MO (2011). Evaluation of sperm motility and viability in honey-included egg yolk based extenders. Global Vet., 7: 19-21.
Ortega-Ferrusola, C; Gonzsalez-Fernandez, L; Muriel, A; Macias-Garcia, B; Rodriguez-Martinez, H; Tapia, JA and Pena, FJ (2009). Does the microbial flora in the ejaculate affect the freezeability of stallion sperm? Reprod. Domest. Anim., 44: 518-522.
Paulenz, H; Soderquist, L; Perez-Pe, R and Berg, KA (2002). Effect of different extenders and storage temperatures on sperm viability of liquid ram semen. Theriogenology. 57: 823-836.
Rakha, BA; Hussain, I; Akhter, S; Ullah, N; Aandrabi, SM and Ansari, MS (2013). Evaluation of tris-citric acid, skim milk and sodium citrate extenders for liquid storage of Punjab Urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) spermatozoa. Reprod. Biol., 13: 238-242.
Schulze, M; Dathe, M; Waberski, D and Muller, K (2016). Liquid storage of boar semen: current and future perspectives on the use of cationic antimicrobial peptides to replace antibiotics in semen extenders. Theriogenology. 85: 39-46.
Shukla, MK (2005). Correlation of microbial load of cryo-preserved semen with quality of neat and cryopreserved murrah buffalo bull semen. Buffalo Bull., 24: 84-87.
Taormina, PJ; Niemira, BA and Beuchat, LR (2001). Inhibitory activity of honey against foodborne pathogens as influenced by the presence of hydrogen peroxide and level of antioxidant power. Int. J. Food Microbiol., 69: 217-225.
Tartibian, B and Maleki, BH (2012). The effects of honey supplementation on seminal plasma cytokines, oxidative stress biomarkers, and antioxidants during 8 weeks of intensive cycling training. J. Androl., 33: 449-461.
Yimer, N; Muhammad, N; Sarsaifi, K; Rosnina, Y; Wahid, H; Khumran, AM and Kaka, A (2015). Effect of honey supplementation into Tris extender on cryopreservation of bull spermatozoa. MJAS. 18: 47-54.
Zoheir, KMA; Harisa, GI; Abo-Salem, OM and Ahmad, SF (2015). Honey bee is a potential antioxidant against cyclophosphamide-induced genotoxicity in albino male mice. Pak. J. Pharm. Sci., 28: 973-981.