Pigeon (Columba livia) semen examination [fertility]

English. The objective of this study was to optimize conditions for semen examination in pigeon (Columba livia), a species largely bred for meat production and as a decorative animal. Hence it is important to establish some guidelines for semen analysis, allowing selection of the best reproducers. Semen was obtained by the massage method and immediately diluted with Tyrode's solution added to 0.5% of bovine serum albumin. Average motility % (MOT%) and straight-line velocity (VCM) values, obtained with semi-automatic computer-assisted sperm analysis, were very elevated: MOT% 82.66 +- 9.25%; VCM 136.67 +- 75.35 micron/s, and remained high throughout the first hour after collection. The Water test, a hypo-osmotic swelling test, was performed by diluting the spermatozoa with bidistilled water, subsequently counting all curled forms present after an incubation time of 15 mins. Curled spermatozoa reached 90.55 +- 6.73%. Morphological observations on pigeon spermatozoa were performed by observing the recorded images of cells, a method which proved to be simple and fast and avoided sample alteration. Only few abnormal forms were found and normal spermatozoa accounted for over 90%.

Italian. L'esame seminologico nel colombo puo' essere condotto sul seme prelevato con il metodo del massaggio cloacale ed immediatamente diluito in Tyrode modificato con aggiunta di BSA allo 0.5%. L'utilizzo del Tyrode come mestruo diluitore risulta idoneo nel mantenere inalterabile la motilita' % e la velocita' cellulare media (VCM), entro un'ora dal prelievo. Tutti i parametri seminali considerati presentano valori notevolmente elevati: spermatozoi normali 90%, motilita' % 82.66 +- 9.25%, VCM 136.67 +- 75.35 micron/s, spermatozoi positivi al water test 90.55 +- 6.73%. L'esame morfologico effettuato sulle immagini registrate risulta di facile esecuzione e consente una rapida archiviazione dei dati