{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T04:30:10Z","timestamp":1791952210582,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,20]],"date-time":"2020-04-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1587340800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities","award":["Grant IDOC 17-18"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Grant IDOC 17-18"]}]},{"name":"Grant Grupos Operativos Suprauton\u00f3micos Programa Nacional Desarrollo Rural, Ministerio de Agricultura Pesca y Alimentac\u00edon y FEADER","award":["20180020007158"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["20180020007158"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Sheep estrous synchronization is mainly based on progestagen-impregnated sponges which could cause vaginitis. Several species of Lactobacillus used as probiotics are commonly used in the treatment or prevention of urogenital infections in humans. However, no studies have been performed to analyze the potential use of probiotics to prevent urogenital infections in sheep. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with 21 one-year-old ewes to develop a model of probiotic infusion in vaginal sponges in order to study their influence in ewe\u2019s vaginal microbiota, general health status, fertility and prolificity. Synchronization of estrus was based on intravaginal sponges for 14 days. Bacterial communities (Enterobacteriaceae and lactic acid bacteria) were highly fluctuating over time and between animals. The safety of probiotic infusion (mix of Lactobacillus spp. 60% L. crispatus, 20% L. brevis and 20% L. gasseri) in the vagina of healthy ewes was firstly confirmed. Neutrophils were observed in 80% (8\/10) of the control ewes compared to 36% (4\/11) of the ewes in the probiotic group 2 days after sponge removal (p = 0.056). Fertility in the control and probiotic groups was 60% (6\/10) and 91% (10\/11), respectively p = 0.097. These results suggest that Lactobacillus spp. infusion in the ewe\u2019s vagina does not affect general health status or fertility.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10040719","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,21]],"date-time":"2020-04-21T05:48:52Z","timestamp":1587448132000},"page":"719","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":34,"title":["Use of Probiotics in Intravaginal Sponges in Sheep: A Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1105-9505","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan J.","family":"Quereda","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9319-0277","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Empar","family":"Garc\u00eda-Rosell\u00f3","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marta","family":"Barba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9706-6238","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mar\u00eda L.","family":"Moc\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jes\u00fas","family":"Gomis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Estrella","family":"Jim\u00e9nez-Trigos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Esther","family":"Bataller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rebeca","family":"Mart\u00ednez-Bov\u00ed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"\u00c1ngel","family":"Garc\u00eda-Mu\u00f1oz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"\u00c1ngel","family":"G\u00f3mez-Mart\u00edn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group Microbiological Agents Associated with Animal Reproduction (PROVAGINBIO), Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anireprosci.2012.01.011","article-title":"Hormonal control of reproduction in small ruminants","volume":"130","author":"Abecia","year":"2012","journal-title":"Anim. 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