Table 3.
Microorganisms (cfu/mL, means ± SEM) isolated from ram semen samples (n = 21) after 24 h and 48 h of incubation at 37 °C on blood agar and selective culture media.
| Variable | C | Fe | Ag | Difference (C-Fe) | p Value | Difference (C-Ag) | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 h | Bacterial load | 1352 ± 896 | 618 ± 233 | 657 ± 353 | 734 ± 329 | 0.58 | 695 ± 2537 | 0.10 |
| Staphylococcus spp. | 349 ± 170 | 320 ± 165 | 366 ± 178 | 29 ± 142 | 0.43 | −18 ± 69 | 0.65 | |
| Enterococcus spp. | 305 ± 150 | 193 ± 99 | 221 ± 109 | 112 ± 366 | 0.65 | 84 ± 311 | 0.49 | |
| Enterobacteriaceae | 261 ± 100 | 343 ± 112 | 325 ± 112 | −82 ± 207 | 0.19 | −64 ± 174 | 0.25 | |
| 48 h | Bacterial load | 4528 ± 2596 | 4098 ± 2082 | 4125 ± 2373 | 430 ± 3544 | 0.94 | 402 ± 1628 | 0.03 |
| Staphylococcus spp. | 853 ± 358 | 634 ± 239 | 761 ± 314 | 219 ± 819 | 0.97 | 93 ± 711 | 0.59 | |
| Enterococcus spp. | 1342 ± 903 | 1350 ± 1000 | 1400 ± 999 | −8 ± 656 | 0.46 | −58 ± 676 | 0.39 | |
| Enterobacteriaceae | 1568 ± 634 | 2746 ± 1185 | 2578 ± 1080 | −1178 ± 3194 | 0.25 | −1010 ± 2569 | 0.43 | |
Group C: No treated extended ram semen samples, Group Fe: Extended ram semen samples treated with Fe3O4 NPs (3.072 mg Fe3O4 per mL of semen); group Ag: Extended ram semen samples treated with Ag/Fe NPs (2.048 mg Ag/Fe per mL of semen).