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Health Advancements Through AI Al allows the introduction of new genetic material with a reduced risk of disease. There is the potential that pathogenic organisms can be transported in semen. However, the probability of new pathogens moving into a herd with the addition of new genetic material in the form of a live boar from almost any source appears much higher than from semen collected from boars quarantined, isolated and tested periodically for a wide variety of organisms. Although the potential for transfer in semen is not clear cut with many pathogens, the following classifications can be made based on the current research and basic knowledge available. A. Cannot be spread through semen
B. Disease from which the U.S. is free; thus, will not be present in semen collected in the U.S.
C. Disease organisms that should not be present in semen if collection is performed under sanitary conditions.
These diseases are normally spread via oral or fecal transmission. D. Reproductive diseases that can be potentially transmitted through semen but can be prevented by periodic testing of the boars.
SGI boars are negative for above five diseases. With boars isolated, periodically tested for these diseases and used only for semen collection (i.e. no natural services) there should be little risk. In addition, the broad spectrum antibiotics normally added to semen are effective against the bacteria which causes the first three diseases. The potential to transmit pseudorabies or PRRS via semen is debatable at the present since the limited research results are not conclusive and there are several known cases where semen from positive boars has been used without spreading the disease. E. Diseases that several years of field experience indicate are not transmitted via semen, the common mode of transmission is by the oral route.
The addition of a combination of spectinomycin and lincomycin will also reduce the risk of mycoplasma organisms being transmitted through the semen. |
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