Antisperm Antibodies in Blood Sera of Bulls and Correlations with Age, Breed and Ejaculate Quality

Abstract

Blood sera from 612 bulls of different age and breed randomly selected in artificial insemination stations and bull rearing stations were examined by ELISA for the presence of antisperm antibodies. At serum dilution 1:40 and higher, the incidence of positive bulls was 35.5%. The first incidence of antibodies was recorded at the age of 5 to 6 months (13.8%), with a significant increase (58.1%; p < 0.01) at 9 to 10 months of age. In the group of bulls aged 5 months and older, positive antibody titres were detected in 42.7% of animals. The finding of antisperm antibodies was significantly higher in active donors of semen compared with the candidate breeders that have not been used as regular donors (56.4% vs. 39.2%; p < 0.01). Higher frequency of antibodies was detected in bulls of the Black Pied Holstein cattle and their crossbreeds compared with the Czech Red Pied cattle and their crossbreeds (48.4% vs. 35.2%; p < 0.01). In positive bulls with a regular semen collection, a lower ejaculate volume was found (p < 0.01) as well as lower activity of endogenous reductases in sperms (p < 0.01) and decreased sperm velocity after 120 min of heat test (p < 0.05). Fertility in those bulls was insignificantly lower. Prognostic and clinical importance of antisperm antibodies for quality assessment of breeding animals is being discussed.