A Mycoplasma, which was a natural pathogen for the bovine mammary gland was added to bull semen prior to processing and freezing in liquid nitrogen. Twelve virgin heifers were inseminated with frozen semen containing live Mycoplasma, and 6 with semen containing heat-killed organisms. Mycoplasma were recovered from cervico-vaginal mucus for up to 8 months after insemination, and also in pure culture from lesions observed at necropsy. Ten of 12 heifers receiving semen containing live Mycoplasma required multiple inseminations, and 4 of the 12 failed to conceive after as many as 5 inseminations. All heifers that received killed organisms conceived.
At necropsy, the 4 heifers that failed to conceive had varying degrees of chronic suppurative salpingitis, chronic endometritis, and ovarian adhesions. The Mycoplasma was considered to be the cause of the genital lesions and the resultant infertility.
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