PREVALENT BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM BOAR SEMEN EXTENDED WITH THE INCLUSION OF MORINGA LEAF EXTRACT (MLE) IN BELTSVILLE THAWING SOLUTION.

Abstract

Antimicrobial agents are added to semen extenders to control the growth of microbes contaminating semen. However, non-therapeutic use of antibiotics comes with its challenges as it may contribute to antibiotic resistance. This study compared the efficacy of Natural antibiotic source: MLE as an alternative to Penicillin and streptomycin. Forty ejaculate each of four exotic boar breeds (Large White, Landrace, Duroc and Gene Converter 750 boars) were collected using gloved hand technique and extended with MLE incorporated at 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00g/250ml of BTS although 0g inclusion had penicillin and streptomycin as control. Semen samples were analysed for microbiological contamination and isolate identity was deduced from the Bergey‘s manual of Systematic Bacteriology, results revealed absence of bacteria in 0g MLE for all breeds except Gene Converter 750 where Alcaligenes spp was found. Gram –ve bacteria were isolated in all the ejaculates with MLE (0.25-1.00g). Pseudomonas spp, Aeromonas spp, Enterococcus spp, Alcaligenes spp, Serratia marcescens, Escheria coli were isolated in all breeds. Acinetobacter baumanii, Buchholdera mallei, citrobacter spp and Pseudomonas fluorescens were also isolated. We inferred that the inhibitory activity of the MLE as an antimicrobial agent for swine extender may be limited or inadequate because of the high presence of gram –ve bacteria in MLE inclusions. The presence of bacteria would in turn lead to reduction in the quality of stored semen, the utilization of a higher dosage of MLE is recommended and procedures with high standards of hygiene and microbiological control.