Characterization of the Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis adhesion to bovine sperm cells
Caracterización de la adhesión de Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis a espermatozoides bovinos
Int. j. morphol; 34 (4), 2016
Publication year: 2016
Campylobacter fetus is extracellular bacteria of the genital tract of cattle. They cause infertility and abortion, but there is no documented information on the susceptibility of bovine sperm cells to this bacteria. The aim of this present work was to study the effects provoked by Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis when in interaction with bovine sperm cells. The bovine spermatozoa were obtained frozen bovine semen pooled from uninfected bulls, and were exposed to living campylobacter over different periods of time. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy first revealed a tropism, then a close proximity followed by tight adhesion between these two different cells. A decrease in the spermatozoa motility was observed. Motile bacteria were observed during the next 3 h, this process began with a tight membranemembrane adhesion. The adhesion between Campylobacter fetus to the sperm cell occurred either by the flagella or by sperm head. Results from this study demonstrated with light microscopy scanning electron microscopy allowed us to characterize some aspects of the interaction of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis and bovine sperm while preserving the cellular and bacterial structure. This ex vivo model might be useful for studies on adhesion and cytopathogenicity of different field strains of Campylobacter fetus.
Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis es un patógeno extracelular del tracto genital de bovinos. En las hembras causa subfertilidad y aborto, mientras que los toros son portadores en el esmegma prepucial y se desconoce si provoca daño en los espermatozoides. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar los efectos de Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis sobre espermatozoides bovinos. Los espermatozoides obtenidos a partir de pajuelas de semen pertenecientes a toros no infectados, se coincubaron con una cepa de Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis por diferentes períodos de tiempo. Por microscopía óptica y electrónica de barrido se observó el tropismo inicial de la bacteria hacia los espermatozoides y la adhesión bacteriana, de forma colateral se observó su efecto en el espermograma. Post incubación los espermatozoides presentaron menor motilidad progresiva y mayor porcentaje de muertos con respecto al control. Se comprobó la viabilidad de la bacteria a las 3 h. Se registró la adhesión de Campylobacter fetus subsp.