Computer-assisted semen analysis in large falcons (Falco spp.)
                    and comparison to results of conventional semen analysis

Dominik Fischer; Helena Schneider; Sabine Meinecke-Tillmann; Axel Wehrend; Michael W. Lierz

doi:10.1055/a-2053-7319

Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe K: Kleintiere / Heimtiere, Table of Contents

Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2023; 51(02): 95-106
DOI: 10.1055/a-2053-7319

Original Article

Computer-assisted semen analysis in large falcons (Falco spp.) and comparison to results of conventional semen analysis

Computergestützte Spermaanalyse bei Großfalken (Falco spp.) und Vergleich zu den Ergebnissen konventioneller spermatologischer Untersuchungen

Dominik Fischer

¹Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany

⁴Zoo Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany

,

Helena Schneider

¹Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany

,

Sabine Meinecke-Tillmann

²Department of Reproductive Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany

,

Axel Wehrend

³Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology of Large and Small Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany

,

Michael W. Lierz

¹Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective Numerous raptor species including some falcon species are facing continuous population decline in the wild and some are threatened by extinction. To support these species, captive breeding and reintroduction programs are attempted. Besides conservation, some large falcon species are commonly used in falconry and therefore bred commercially. Assisted reproduction is established in falcon breeding since the 1970s and semen analysis is an integral part to enable assessment of breeding males, inclusion or exclusion of semen donors and quality control of semen prior to artificial insemination. Conventional methods for semen analysis are widely used, but are time consuming and depend on the investigator’s experience and ability. Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) would offer an objective, fast and reproducible alternative, but as they have not been established in large falcon species, this was the aim of this study.

Material and methods To this end, we examined in 3 breeding seasons 109 semen samples of gyr-saker hybrid falcons (n=2) and peregrine falcons (n=4) in 940 fields of view using the Minitube CASA SpermVision and compared these results to results of conventional methods of semen analysis. We used a preprogrammed setting and adapted two settings of CASA according to specific semen characteristics of falcons.

Results Sperm velocity, motility and viability parameters were recorded successfully using CASA. Correlation of conventional and computer-assisted motility analysis improved during the process of adaptation of CASA settings, but both methods differed significantly due to misinterpretation of round bodies and semen impurities by CASA. Viability values of conventional and computer assisted viability analysis using SYBR-PI correlated significantly while sperm concentration did not at all.

Conclusion CASA failed to replace conventional semen analysis regarding sperm motility and sperm concentration using 3 different settings, as a reliable differentiation between spermatozoa, spermatids and round bodies was not achieved.

Clinical relevance Using CASA, sperm velocity parameters were measured in spermatozoa of captive-bred large falcons for the first time and may be used as orientation values.

Key words

Spermatology - andrology - assisted reproduction - sperm analysis - raptors - birds of prey

Schlüsselwörter

Spermatologie - Andrologie - Assistierte Reproduktion - Samenanalyse - Spermauntersuchung - Greifvögel - Falken

Full Text

References

References
1 BirdLife International. Accipitriformes, Cathartiformes, Falconiformes. In, The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List of Threatened Species http://www.iucnredlist.org 2022
2 McClure CJW, Westrip JRS, Johnson JA. et al. State of the world's raptors: distributions, threats, and conservation recommendations. Biological Conservation 2018; 227: 390-402
3 Gippoliti S, Carpaneto GM. Captive breeding, zoos and good sense. Conservation Biology 1997; 11: 806-807
4 Saar C, Gerriet S, Paasch B. et al. Die künstliche Besamung beim Wanderfalken (Falco peregrinus). Ein Beitrag zur Rettung einer vom Aussterben bedrohten Art. Kleintierpraxis 1983; 28: 163-176
5 Lierz M. Raptors: reproductive disease, incubation and artificial insemination. In: Chitty J, Lierz M, Hrsg. BSAVA manual of raptors pigeons and passerine birds. Gloucester, UK: BSAVA Press; 2008: 235-249
6 Lierz M. Reproduction. In: Speer B, Hrsg. Current therapy in avian medicine and surgery. 1. Aufl.. St. Louis, MO, USA: Elsevier; 2016: 433-445
7 Bailey TA, Lierz M. Veterinary aspects of bird of prey reproduction. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2017; 20: 455-483
8 Blanco J, Wildt D, Hofle U. et al. Implementing artificial insemination as an effective tool for ex situ conservation of endangered avian species. Theriogenology 2009; 71: 200-213
9 Verstegen J, Iguer-Ouada M, Onclin K. Computer assisted semen analyzers in andrology research and veterinary practice. Theriogenology 2002; 57: 149-179
10 Blesbois E, Grasseau I, Seigneurin F. et al. Predictors of success of semen cryopreservation in chickens. Theriogenology 2008; 69: 252-261
11 King LM, Holsberger DR, Donoghue AM. Correlation of CASA velocity and linearity parameters with sperm mobility phenotype in turkeys. J Androl 2000; 21: 65-71
12 Froman DP. Sperm mobility in birds: insights from fowl sperm. In: Roldan ERS, Gomendio M, Hrsg. Spermatology. Nottingham, UK: Nottingham University Press; 2007: 293-308
13 Bielsa MA, Andolz P, Gris JM. et al. Which semen parameters have a predicitive value for pregnancy in infertile couples. Hum Reprod 1994; 9: 1887-1890
14 Bjorndahl L, Soderlund I, Johansson S. et al. Why the WHO recommendations for eosin-nigrosin staining techniques for human sperm vitality assessment must change. J Androl 2004; 25: 671-678
15 World Health Organization (WHO). Hrsg. Laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. 5. Aufl. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization Press; 2010
16 Björndahl L, Söderlund I, Kvist U. Evaluation of the one-step eosin-nigrosin staining technique for human sperm. Hum Reprod 2003; 18: 813-816
17 Bailey TA. The role of demographic and genetic resource management in maintaining small populations of falcons in captivity: the example of the New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) Captive Breeding Programme and a pilot study to cryopreserve semen from falconidae using field techniques. London: University of London; 2002
18 Donoghue AM, Garner DL, Donoghue DJ. et al. Viability assessment of turkey sperm using fluorescent staining and flow cytometry. Poult Sci 1995; 74: 1191-1200
19 Garner DL, Johnson LA. Viability assessment of mammalian sperm using SYBR-14 and propidium iodide. Biol Reprod 1995; 53: 276-284
20 Klimowicz-Bodys MD, Batkowski F, Ochrem AS. et al. Comparison of assessment of pigeon sperm viability by contrast-phase microscope (eosin-nigrosin staining) and flow cytometry (SYBR-14/propidium iodide (PI) staining) [evaluation of pigeon sperm viability]. Theriogenology 2012; 77: 628-635
21 Chalah T, Brillard JP. Comparison of assessment of fowl sperm viability by eosin-nigrosin and dual fluorescence (SYBR-14/PI). Theriogenology 1998; 50: 487-493
22 Fischer D, Schneider H, Failing K. et al. Viability assessment of spermatozoa in large falcons (Falco spp.) using various stains and staining protocols. Reprod Domest Anim 2020; 55: 1383-1392
23 Sontakke SD, Umapathy G, Sivaram V. et al. Semen characteristics, cryopreservation, and successful artificial insemination in the blue rock pigeon (Columba livia). Theriogenology 2004; 62: 139-153
24 Umapathy G, Sontakke S, Reddy A. et al. Semen characteristics of the captive Indian white-backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis). Biol Reprod 2005; 73: 1039-1045
25 Klimowicz M, Nizanski W, Batkowski F. et al. The comparison of assessment of pigeon semen motility and sperm concentration by conventional methods and the CASA system (HTM IVOS). Theriogenology 2008; 70: 77-82
26 Froman DP, Feltmann AJ. Sperm mobility: phenotype in roosters (Gallus domesticus) determined by concentration of motile sperm and straight-line velocity. Biol Reprod 2000; 63: 303-309
27 Sood S, Malecki IA, Tawang A. et al. Survival of emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) sperm preserved at subzero temperatures and different cryoprotectant concentrations. Theriogenology 2012; 78: 1557-1569
28 Lüpold S, Calhim S, Immler S. et al. Sperm morphology and sperm velocity in passerine birds. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2009; 276 no: 1157-1181
29 Dogliero A, Rota A, Lofiego R. et al. Semen evaluation in four autochthonous wild raptor species using computer-aided sperm analyzer. Theriogenology 2016; 85: 1113-1117
30 Dogliero A, Rota A, von Degerfeld MM. et al. Use of computer-assisted semen analysis for evaluation of Rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) semen collected in different periods of the year. Theriogenology 2015; 83: 103-106
31 Fischer D, Neumann D, Wehrend A. et al. Comparison of conventional and computer-assisted semen analysis in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) and evaluation of different insemination dosages for artificial insemination. Theriogenology 2014; 82: 613-620
32 Villaverde-Morcillo S, García-Sánchez R, Castaño C. et al. Characterization of natural ejaculates and sperm cryopreservation in a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus. J Zoo Wildl Med 2015; 46: 335-338
33 Madeddu M, Marelli S, Abdel Sayed A. et al. Assessment of sperm viability and computer-assisted motility analysis in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus): effect of several in vitro processing conditions. Vet Med Int 2022; 2022: 5997320
34 Villaverde-Morcillo S, Soler AJ, Esteso MC. et al. Immature and mature sperm morphometry in fresh and frozen-thawed falcon ejaculates. Theriogenology 2017; 98: 94-100
35 Fischer D, de Oliveira MJ, Baumgartner K. et al. A pilot study about assisted reproduction in harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja) in the course of species conservation including collection, storage, and analysis of semen. Theriogenology 2022; 181: 190-201
36 Boyd LL, Boyd NS, Dobler FC. Reproduction of prairie falcons by artificial insemination. J Wildl Manag 1977; 41: 266-271
37 Temple SA. Artificial insemination with imprinted birds of prey. Nature 1972; 237: 287-288
38 Bird DM, Lague PC. Management practices for captive kestrels used as semen donors for artificial insemination. J Raptor Res 1976; 10: 92-96
39 Samour JH. Semen collection, spermatozoa cryopreservation, and artificial insemination in nondomestic birds. J Avian Med Surg 2004; 18: 219-223
40 Neumann D, Kaleta EF, Lierz MW. Semen collection and artificial insemination in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) – a potential model for psittacines. Tierarztl Prax 2013; 41 K 101-105
41 Blanco JM, Gee GF, Wildt DE. et al. Producing progeny from endangered birds of prey, urine contamination, intramagnal insemination. J Zoo Wildl Med 2002; 33: 1-7
42 Stachecki JJ, Ginsburg KA, Leach RE. et al. Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) of epididymal sperm from the domestic cat. J Androl 1993; 14: 60-65
43 Donoghue AM, Holsberger DR, Evenson DP. et al. Semen donor selection by in vitro sperm mobility increases fertility and semen storage in the turkey hen. J Androl 1998; 19: 295-301
44 Knuth UA, Yeung CH, Nieschlag E. Computerized semen analysis: objective measurement of semen characteristics is biased by subjective parameter setting. Fertil Steril 1987; 48: 118-124
45 Iguer-ouada M, Verstegen JP. Evaluation of the “Hamilton Thorn computer-based automated system” for dog semen analysis. Theriogenology 2001; 55: 733-749
46 Henning H, Le Thi X, Waberski D. Validation of computer-assisted sperm morphology analysis using Sperm vision Automorph. Proc 23th European AI Vets Meeting; 19-21.10.2011.2011; Praque, Czech Republic