Decreased Motility of Bull Spermatozoa Caused by Mycoplasma bovigenitalium

Abstract

SUMMARY Mycoplasma bovigenitalium mixed with bull semen in egg yolk-citrate buffer and held at 5C caused a highly significant time- and dose-dependent depression in sperm motility. Mycoplasma adhered to a majority of spermatozoa, principally to the acrosome, but also to the midpiece and tail. This may reflect the basis for a naturally observed condition in young bulls in which genital mycoplasmosis is associated with low sperm motility.