Microplastics in the seminal microenvironment of boar semen: associations with sperm motility and antimicrobial susceptibility

Šarūnė Sorkytė; Steigvilė Byčenkienė; Ieva Uogintė; Sonata Pleskytė; Artūras Šiukščius; Marius Virgailis; Rita Šiugždinienė; Gintarė Vaičiulienė; Audronė Rekešiūtė; Neringa Sutkevičienė

doi:10.3389/fvets.2026.1847076/full

0

Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Sign in to save

Microplastics in the seminal microenvironment of boar semen: associations with sperm motility and antimicrobial susceptibility

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences 2026

Šarūnė Sorkytė, Steigvilė Byčenkienė, Ieva Uogintė, Sonata Pleskytė, Artūras Šiukščius, Marius Virgailis, Rita Šiugždinienė, Gintarė Vaičiulienė, Audronė Rekešiūtė, Neringa Sutkevičienė

Summary

Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in boar semen and discovered a link to weaker sperm movement and changes in how bacteria in the semen responded to antibiotics. While this study was done in pigs, not people, it raises concern because boars are often used as a stand-in for human reproductive health research—suggesting plastic pollution could potentially affect fertility and increase antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans too. More research is needed to confirm whether these same effects happen in men.