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Reinoso-Peláez EL, Saura M, González-Recio Ó, González C, Fernández A, Peiro-Pastor R, López-García A, Saborío-Montero A, Calvo JH, Ramón M, Serrano M. Impact of oestrus synchronization devices on ewes vaginal microbiota and artificial insemination outcome. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1063807. [PMID: 37032869 PMCID: PMC10076614 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1063807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The low pregnancy rate by artificial insemination in sheep represents a fundamental challenge for breeding programs. In this species, oestrus synchronization is carried out by manipulating hormonal regimens through the insertion of progestogen intravaginal devices. This reproductive strategy may alter the vaginal microbiota affecting the artificial insemination outcome. Methods In this study, we analyzed the vaginal microbiome of 94 vaginal swabs collected from 47 ewes with alternative treatments applied to the progesterone-releasing intravaginal devices (probiotic, maltodextrin, antibiotic and control), in two sample periods (before placing and after removing the devices). To our knowledge, this is the first study using nanopore-based metagenome sequencing for vaginal microbiome characterization in livestock. Results Our results revealed a significant lower abundance of the genera Oenococcus (Firmicutes) and Neisseria (Proteobacteria) in pregnant compared to non-pregnant ewes. We also detected a significant lower abundance of Campylobacter in the group of samples treated with the probiotic. Discussion Although the use of probiotics represents a promising practice to improve insemination results, the election of the suitable species and concentration requires further investigation. In addition, the use of progestogen in the synchronization devices seemed to increase the alpha-diversity and decrease the abundance of harmful microorganisms belonging to Gammaproteobacteria and Fusobacteriia classes, suggesting a beneficial effect of their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar L. Reinoso-Peláez
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Producción Agraria, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Edgar L. Reinoso-Peláez,
| | - María Saura
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- María Saura,
| | - Óscar González-Recio
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen González
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena Fernández
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramón Peiro-Pastor
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián López-García
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Saborío-Montero
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge H. Calvo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA-ARAID-IA2), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Manuel Ramón
- Departamento de Investigación en Reproducción y Mejora Genética Animal, Centro Regional de Selección y Reproducción Animal de Castilla La Mancha (CERSYRA-IRIAF), Valdepeñas, Spain
| | - Malena Serrano
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Lockwood A, Currie A, Hancock S, Broomfield S, Liu S, Scanlan V, Kearney GA, Thompson AN. Supplementation of Merino ewes with cholecalciferol in late pregnancy improves the vitamin D status of ewes and lambs at birth but is not correlated with an improvement in immune function in lambs. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1071/an15085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Functional deficiencies of the immune system are known to predispose human and animal neonates to death. Thus, immune competency may be a significant factor influencing the mortality of lambs. Vitamin D has been recognised to improve immune function and is transferred across the placenta. This study tested the hypotheses that (1) supplementation of Merino ewes with cholecalciferol during late pregnancy will increase the concentrations of vitamin D in the ewe and lamb at birth and (2) supplementation of Merino ewes with cholecalciferol during late pregnancy is correlated with an increase in innate phagocytic and adaptive antibody immune responses in the lamb. Merino ewes (n = 53) were injected intramuscularly with 1 × 106 IU cholecalciferol at Days 113 and 141 of pregnancy. A control group (n = 58) consisted of ewes receiving no additional nutritional treatments. The vitamin D status of ewes and lambs was assessed up until 1 month post-lambing. Lamb immune function was assessed by analysing the functional capacity of phagocytes, and the plasma IgG and anti-tetanus-toxoid antibody concentrations between birth and weaning. Maternal supplementation with cholecalciferol increased the plasma 25(OH)D concentrations of both ewes (137 vs 79 nmol/L; P < 0.001) and lambs (49 vs 24 nmol/L; P < 0.001) at birth compared with the controls. Supplementation with cholecalciferol had no significant effect on the phagocytic capacity of monocytes or polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the concentration of IgG in the colostrum or plasma of lambs, or the vaccine-specific antibody response against tetanus toxoid. Overall, the results support our first hypothesis, but suggest that maternal supplementation with 1 × 106 IU cholecalciferol does not improve innate, passive or adaptive immune function in lambs.
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Chniter M, Salhi I, Harrabi H, Khorchani T, Lainé AL, Nowak R, Hammadi M. Physiological changes in the peri-partum period and colostral IgG transfer in prolific D'man sheep: effects of parity and litter size. Trop Anim Health Prod 2015; 48:387-94. [PMID: 26644226 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-015-0963-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to assess maternal and neonatal changes in plasma proteins, glucose and cortisol and to quantify the colostral immunoglobulin G (IgG) transfer in the peri-partum period in D'man sheep, a prolific breed, taking into account the parity of the ewe. The concentrations of proteins and glucose were high in the ewes on day 7 and at lambing before decreasing. Likewise, cortisol plasma concentration was maximal during the 6 h following lambing and dropped at 12 h. Protein and glucose concentrations were low in lambs at 1 h of birth after which they increased. By contrast, cortisol level was the highest during the first 12 h of birth and then decreased. The colostral IgG level was high at lambing and dropped by over 87 % from 1 to 48 h post-partum. In the newborn, the plasma IgG concentration was lowest at birth and increased rapidly during the first 24 h of birth. Parity influenced maternal physiology with multiparous ewes having the lowest concentrations of proteins, glucose, IgG and cortisol, but the highest colostrum IgG level. Accordingly, lambs born from primiparous ewes had lower protein, glucose and plasma IgG concentrations than lambs born from multiparous ewes. The main outcome of this study was that lambs born from primiparous ewes are characterized by the lowest physiological indices and this may influence their survival chance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Chniter
- Laboratoire d'Elevage & Faune Sauvage, Institut des Régions Arides, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia.
| | - Imed Salhi
- Laboratoire d'Elevage & Faune Sauvage, Institut des Régions Arides, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia
| | - Hager Harrabi
- Laboratoire d'Elevage & Faune Sauvage, Institut des Régions Arides, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia
| | - Touhami Khorchani
- Laboratoire d'Elevage & Faune Sauvage, Institut des Régions Arides, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia
| | - Anne-Lyse Lainé
- INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37041, Tours, France.,Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Raymond Nowak
- INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37041, Tours, France.,Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Mohamed Hammadi
- Laboratoire d'Elevage & Faune Sauvage, Institut des Régions Arides, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia
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