Effect of latex and vinyl examination gloves on canine spermatozoal motility

Abstract

Summary Two experiments were conducted to determine whether contact with latex or vinyl examination gloves affects canine spermatozoal motility. In experiment 1, semen was collected by digital manipulation from each of 5 dogs, and initial spermatozoal motility was assessed. The ejaculate was divided into 5 equal subsamples of 2 ml each, then randomly assigned to a control group, or treated with a 0.5-cm2 piece of latex or vinyl glove with or without talcum powder. After such exposure, spermatozoal motility was assessed at 1 and 5 minutes. Talcum powder within latex or vinyl glove treatments had no significant effect on spermatozoal motility at either period. Spermatozoal motility in samples did not differ between the control and vinyl glove groups; however, latex glove-treated samples were found to have a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in spermatozoal motility at 1 and 5 minutes. In experiment 2, the effects of latex and vinyl gloves on canine spermatozoal motility during a sham laboratory manipulation was performed. Three ejaculates of approximately 10 ml were collected from each of 5 dogs and randomly assigned, within each dog, to be either a control (no glove exposure) or allowed to briefly contact either a latex or vinyl glove during sample manipulation. Spermatozoal motility was assessed for each sample immediately prior to and at 1 minute after manipulation. Exposure of semen to latex gloves significantly (P < 0.05) decreased sample spermatozoal motility, whereas vinyl glove exposure had a minimal (P > 0.05) effect. Results of this study indicate that contact of dog semen with latex gloves may have a detrimental effect on spermatozoal motility; therefore, when working with semen, contact of the gloves with the semen sample should be avoided. Because vinyl gloves had a minimal effect on spermatozoal motility in this study, their use is recommended over that of latex gloves.