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Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Barba, MAuthor

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March 24, 2025
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Development of an innovative intravaginal model of probiotic inoculation in dairy ovine flocks: positive effects on the vaginal microbiota, vaginitis and fertility

Publicated to: Animal. 19 (2): 101417- - 2025-02-01 19(2), DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101417

Authors:

Toquet, M; Gomis, J; Jiménez-Trigos, E; Bataller, E; Barba, M; Sánchez, A; González-Torres, P; Gómez-Martín, A
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Affiliations

Agrifood Res & Technol Ctr Aragon CITA, Calle Corinto 3 - Author
Centro de Innovación en Bioeconomía Rural. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón - Author
CEU Univ, Univ Cardenal Herrera CEU, Fac Vet, Dept Prod & San Anim Salud Publ Vet & Ciencia & Te, Carrer Tirant Blanc 7 - Author
Microm Syst SL - Author
Univ Murcia, Fac Vet, Dept San Anim, Ruminant Hlth Res Grp, Campus Espinardo - Author
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Abstract

In vitro studies have reported the antimicrobial effect of an inoculum (L2) made from commercial probiotic strains of Lactobacillus spp. (Lactobacillus (L.) crispatus, L. brevis and L. gasseri) against some ruminants' pathogens. However, their possible beneficial effects on controlling the vaginosis caused by the use of intravaginal sponges for oestrus synchronisation have not been evaluated in in vivo models. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to perform an intravaginal double inoculation of this same non-lyophilised (non-freeze-dried) L2 inoculum, in 120 ewes from four dairy commercial ovine flocks using straws similar to those used in artificial insemination. Globally, in the entire study population, the fertility percentage (65%) of the inoculated groups increased by 10% compared to the control groups (55%). Specifically, increases in the percentages of pregnant sheep in flocks 1 and 4 (10.7 and 5.7% respectively; P > 0.05) and flock 3 (27.3%; P < 0.05) were observed in inoculated ewes. Overall, the administration of L2 on the day of intravaginal sponge insertion decreased the number of ewes with vaginitis by 11.13% at the time of sponge removal (T1). In the first flock, the administration of the probiotic positively modulated the microbiota with an increased richness and presence of Lactobacillales accompanied by a reduction in Mycoplasma spp. Genera such as Fusobacterium, Streptobacillus, Campylobacter or Trueperella were linked to the presence of vaginitis at T1. Genera belonging to Lactobacillales, including some genera previously reported to be beneficial for pregnancy, significantly increased at the time of pregnancy diagnosis but significantly decreased at T1. The results of this study suggest that the use of probiotics via intravaginal inoculation as a strategy to positively modulate the microbiota and vaginal inflammation, derived from the use of intravaginal sponges, is also associated with improved fertility. This novel approach could improve animal welfare in oestrus-synchronisation protocols and represents an alternative to the prophylactic use of antibiotics.
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Keywords

Administration, intravaginalAlternative to antibiotic therapyAnimal welfareAnimalsArtificial-inseminationBienestar animalEstrous synchronizationEstrus inductionEstrus synchronizationEwesFemaleFertilityLactic-acid bacteriaLactobacillusMicrobiotaMilkMollicutesMycoides subsp capriMycoplasma-agalactiaeOvejaOvinosPregnancyProbioticsResistencia a los antibióticosSheepSheep diseasesSmall ruminantsSpongesVaginaVaginitisZero hunger

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Animal due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 7/170, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Veterinary Sciences. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2026-03-07:

  • WoS: 1
  • Scopus: 2
  • Europe PMC: 1
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-03-07:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 14.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 14 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 10.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/10532/7551
Continuing with the social impact of the work, it is important to emphasize that, due to its content, it can be assigned to the area of interest of ODS 2 - Zero hunger, with a probability of 76% according to the mBERT algorithm developed by Aurora University.
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Project objectives

Los objetivos perseguidos en esta aportación fueron desarrollar un modelo innovador de inoculación intravaginal de probióticos en rebaños ovinos lecheros y evaluar sus efectos sobre la microbiota vaginal, la vaginitis y la fertilidad. Se planteó analizar el impacto de una doble inoculación del inóculo L2 no liofilizado en ovejas durante la inserción de esponjas intravaginales para la sincronización del estro. Además, se pretendió determinar la capacidad del probiótico para reducir la incidencia de vaginitis al momento de la retirada de las esponjas (T1). Otro objetivo fue caracterizar los cambios en la riqueza y composición de la microbiota vaginal, especialmente en la presencia de Lactobacillales y patógenos como Mycoplasma spp. Finalmente, se buscó evaluar la asociación entre la modulación microbiana y la mejora de la fertilidad en las ovejas inoculadas.
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Most relevant results

Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio demuestran efectos positivos de la inoculación intravaginal del inóculo probiótico L2 en ovejas lecheras. En primer lugar, la fertilidad global aumentó un 10%, alcanzando un 65% en los grupos inoculados frente al 55% en controles. En particular, se observaron incrementos del 10,7% y 5,7% en los rebaños 1 y 4 (P > 0,05) y del 27,3% en el rebaño 3 (P < 0,05). Además, la administración de L2 redujo en un 11,13% la incidencia de vaginitis al momento de retirar las esponjas intravaginales (T1). En el rebaño 1, se evidenció una modulación positiva de la microbiota con aumento de Lactobacillales y disminución de Mycoplasma spp. Finalmente, géneros bacterianos asociados a vaginitis, como Fusobacterium y Campylobacter
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