Identificação de bactérias no sêmen de ovinos em diferentes sistemas de criação e o efeito do uso de Kilol-L®

The objective of this study was to identify and quantify bacteria from fresh ram semen, evaluate the use of sanitizer Kilol-L ® prior to semen collection, and test the sensitivity of bacterial strains against antibiotics. We selected 24 Santa Ines rams clinically healthy, at 4 years of aged, and grouped them into two systems: on pasture (n=12) and confined (n=12). The microbiological results indicated that of the total of 120 ejaculates, 99 had bacterial growth, representing 82.5% of the samples. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Bacillus spp ., Corynebacterium spp ., Escherichia coli , Listeria spp ., Staphylococcus spp ., and Streptococcus spp. From the tested antibiotics, amicacin and gentamicin were 100% effective for Bacillus spp. and E. Coli. Ceftiofur was effective for all isolates except for Rodococcus equi . Streptococcus spp . were susceptible to ampicillin and erythromycin and Staphylococcus spp . were sensitive to gentamycin. The use of Kilol-L ® reduced the number of Colony Forming Units (CFU/mL) from ejaculate without damaging semen quality. From the tested antibiotics, ceftiofur and gentamicin were more effective against the isolated bacterial strains; thus the use of these antibiotics in the ram semen extender is an alternative to control bacterial growth. KEYWORDS: antibiogram; bacteria; ovine; sanitizer; semen sperm parameters.