Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40133892›Full record

SynthesisBMC veterinary research2025

Association between sperm DNA fragmentation and fertility parameters in farm animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Kenneth Owoicho Abah, Zuzanna Ligocka-Kowalczyk, Joy Iyojo Itodo, Grace Ameh, Agnieszka Partyka, Wojciech Nizanski

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC veterinary research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kenneth Owoicho AbahDepartment of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50‑366, Wroclaw, Poland. kenneth.abah@upwr.edu.pl.
Zuzanna Ligocka-KowalczykDepartment of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50‑366, Wroclaw, Poland.
Joy Iyojo ItodoDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Lafia, Lafia, Nasarawa, 950101, Nigeria.
Grace AmehDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Airport Road FCT - Abuja P.M.B 117, Abuja, Nigeria.
Agnieszka PartykaDepartment of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50‑366, Wroclaw, Poland.
Wojciech NizanskiDepartment of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50‑366, Wroclaw, Poland.

Funding

Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange under grant number PPI/APM/2019/1/00044/U/ 00001Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences (Poland) under the Ph.D. research programme "Doctoral student grant at the Doctoral School of Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences" N020/0014/2022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAccurately predicting male fertility is crucial for the animal breeding industry due to its significant economic implications. Existing literature suggests that mammalian fertility is partially dependent on sperm DNA integrity. However, routine semen analysis often fails to detect DNA damage and does not consistently correlate with field fertility outcomes. While assessing sperm DNA integrity provides valuable biological insights, its role in diagnosing animal infertility remains uncertain.

resultsThis meta-analysis evaluated the association between sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and fertility in farm animals. Comprehensive searches were conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Springer Link Library, with results stratified by animal species and SDF detection methods. Across 30 studies, the overall correlation coefficient (COR) between SDF and male fertility was -0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.54 to -0.37; Z = -8.97; p < 0.001). A significant association was observed in bulls (COR = -0.47; 95% CI: -0.54 to -0.40; Z = -11.13; p < 0.001) and stallions (COR = -0.54; 95% CI: -0.72 to -0.29; Z = -3.83; p < 0.001), whereas no significant relationship was found in boars (COR = -0.19; 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.01; Z = -1.84; p = 0.07). The effect of SDF on male fertility was analyzed in 15 studies, demonstrating significantly higher SDF values in low-fertility animals compared to high-fertility groups (SMD = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.01; Z = 10.07; p < 0.001). This pattern was observed in both bulls (SMD = 1.21; 95% CI: 0.85 to 1.57; Z = 6.59; p < 0.001) and stallions (SMD = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.85; Z = 6.14; p < 0.001) subgroups.

conclusionsThese findings suggest that incorporating SDF assays into breeding soundness evaluations could enhance the accuracy of selecting high-quality breeding males for artificial breeding programs. However, further research with adequately powered studies, standardized methodologies, and appropriate sample sizes is necessary to fully elucidate the impact of elevated SDF on fertility in farm animals.

Indexed as

Animals, DomesticDNA FragmentationFertilityLivestockSpermatozoaAnimalsCattleHorsesMaleSemen AnalysisAnimal reproductionMeta-analysisSemen qualitySperm DNA damageSubfertility

Identifiers

PMID40133892
PMCPMC11938742

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.