project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Reducing antibiotic use in the pig artificial insemination sector
Disminución del uso de antibióticos en el sector de la inseminación artificial en porcino
Objectives
The primary aim of the present project is to develop a method for pig semen sanitation that permits extraction, conservation and subsequent artificial insemination with refrigerated semen within an antibiotic-free environment.
Specific objectives:
•To evaluate the effect of antimicrobial peptides on in vitro sperm quality
•To validate the effectiveness of the peptides in the production of seminal doses
• To validate the effectiveness of the peptides at insemination centres with different working environments
•To determine the impact of the peptides on the fertilising capacity of the semen
•To draft a working protocol for the use of antimicrobial peptides
•To disseminate the results obtained
Objectives
El objetivo principal es obtener un método de higienización del esperma de porcino que permita la recolección, la conservación y el posterior uso del semen refrigerado por inseminación artificial en un medio libre de antibióticos.
Objetivos específicos:
• Evaluación del efecto de los péptidos antimicrobianos sobre la calidad espermática in vitro.
• Validar la efectividad de los péptidos sobre la producción de dosis seminales.
• Validar la efectividad de los péptidos en centros de inseminación con diferentes ambientes.
• Determinar el impacto de los péptidos en el poder fecundante del esperma.
• Redactar un protocolo de trabajo para el uso de péptidos.
• Divulgar los resultados obtenidos.
Activities
Antimicrobial peptides have been shown to control the growth of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at relatively low concentrations without detrimental effects on either sperm quality or fertility. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these peptides does not vary with environment or seasonality. Therefore, they can be safely used as a substitute for antibiotics in porcine semen preservation diluents at 17°C.
According to the results obtained, the LEAP2 and PMAP23 peptides were the most suitable ones, with the highest capacity to control the growth of anaerobic bacteria.
Activities
Se ha comprobado que los péptidos antimicrobianos, con una concentración relativamente baja, controlan el crecimiento de las bacterias aerobias y anaerobias, sin tener efectos deletéreos ni sobre la calidad espermática ni sobre la capacidad fecundante. Además, la efectividad de este tipo de péptidos no varía ni con el ambiente ni con la estacionalidad. Por lo tanto, se pueden utilizar de manera segura como sustituyentes de los antibióticos en los diluyentes de conservación del semen porcino a 17 °C. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos, los péptidos LEAP2 y PMAP23 han sido los más idóneos y los que presentan una mayor capacidad de control del crecimiento de las bacterias anaerobias.
Kontext
Pig breeding is currently carried out by means of artificial insemination. Since pig semen can be a carrier for pathological agents, it is essential for refrigerating thinners to contain antimicrobials. In this way, the growth of bacteria in semen can be controlled, thereby preventing losses both for seminal fluid production centres and for pig farms where the semen is used. However, the use of antibiotics has been increasingly restricted to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. For the above reasons, the present project considers the possible substitution of current preservation methods with methods based on antimicrobial peptides rather than antibiotics.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014ES06RDRP009 Spain - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Cataluña
Ort
- Main geographical location
- Barcelona
€ 238968.62
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Project keyword
Contacts
Project coordinator
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SEMEN CARDONA, SL
Project coordinator