Identification of Trueperella abortisuis contamination in extended boar semen

Trueperella abortisuis is a gram-positive bacterium that has been previously identified in aborted porcine feti and placentae located in Asia and Europe. Routine microbiological screening of extended boar semen from a US mid-Atlantic stud identified delayed growth of very small white colonies on both brain-heart infusion and sheep-blood agars after 48 to 72 hours incubation at 37°C under aerobic conditions. Isolate identification was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, with T abortisuis identified (MALDI biotyper score = 2.103). After storage at 16°C and 72 hours post collection, total and progressive motility parameters had decreased in extended semen samples positive for T abortisuis. Further work is needed to elucidate the role T abortisuis may play in extended boar semen quality, extended semen longevity, and sow reproductive performance.