In Vivo Effect of Ampicillin, Enrofloxacin, Colistin, and Sulfonamides on Sperm Parameters in Breeding Roosters

Abstract The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of commonly prescribed antibiotics on sperm parameters in breeding roosters. Twenty adult breeding roosters were divided into four experimental groups receiving different antibiotics during 9 consecutive days (G1: 30 mg/kg of Ampicillin, G2: 10 mg/kg of Enrofloxacin, G3: 75000 UI/kg of Colistin, and G4: 1g/liter of a Sulfonamides association. The measurements were performed on T0 (before treatment), T3, and T9 representing 3 and 9 days of treatment. The analysed parameters were: total motility (TM%), progressive motility (PM%), curvilinear velocity (VCLμm/s), straight-line velocity (VSLμm/s), average path velocity (VAPμm/s), amplitude of the lateral head displacement (ALH μm), linearity (LIN %) and the beat-cross frequency (BCF Hz). Antibiotics did not affect ejaculates color, pH (8 ± 0.5), seminal fluid viscosity, and agglutination. Ampicillin increased slightly sperm volume on T3 with no significant change on T9. No significant effect was observed on T3 on sperm count, viability, and TM. PM deceased slightly on T3. Enrofloxacin and Colistin induced a significant decrease in sperm volume, count, viability, TM, and PM on T3. On T9 some parameters were improved to be closer to those observed at T0. Ampicillin, Colistin, and Enrofloxacin decreased significantly all (CASA) Computer Aided Sperm Analysis kinematics parameters. The highest impact was observed on the third day of treatment (T3). Sulfonamides decreased sperm volume and gametes concentration, but enhanced significantly sperm viability, total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), and all kinematic parameters.