Chlamydial Infection and Male Infertility: An Epidemiological Study

Custo, Giomimmo; Lauro, Vincenzo Di; Saitto, Carlo; Frongillo, R. F.

doi:10.3109/01485018908986847

Cited by 31 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…This is in accordance with Hartmann's report, which isolated C. truchomatis in testes of a male with pyospermia [7]. Semen abnormalities are associated with chlamydia1 infections [4] and C. truchomatis is attached to spermatozoa recovered from the peritoneal cavity of patients with salpingitis [5]. However, no significant difference was observed between Chlumydiuinfected and noninfected patients when semen parameters (cell count, motility, bovine mucus penetration, and hypoosmotic swelling test) were compared [9].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Electron Microscopy ofChlamydia trachomatisInfection of the Male Genital Tract

Villegas

Piñón

Shor

et al. 1991

Archives of Andrology

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Semen specimens and testicular and epididymis biopsy from a patient of an infertile marriage were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Intraepithelial vesicles containing C. trachomais were present in remaining cytoplasmic droplets in spermatozoa, desquamated epithelial cells, and stereocilia from epididymis. Elementary bodies were demonstrated in connective tissue from testes and in Leydig cells. The association between the microorganisms and spermatozoa contribute to the decreased motility and necrospermia. The morphologic alterations in epididymis are responsible for decreased sperm maturation. The damage to Leydig cells can be demonstrated only by electron microscopy.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Electron Microscopy ofChlamydia trachomatisInfection of the Male Genital Tract

Villegas

Piñón

Shor

et al. 1991

Archives of Andrology

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“…trachomatis can attach to spermatozoa (Hanssen & Mardh, 1984) and can be present in cytoplasmic droplets of spermatozoa (Villegas et al, 1991). Previous studies have found a correlation between genital chlamydial infection and sperm quality (Custo et al, 1989), although other studies have reported contradictory findings (Eggert-Kruse et al, 1996;Gdoura et al, 2001). It is important to resolve this issue, since chlamydiae present in semen could be transmitted by adhering to spermatozoa, which may serve as vectors, spreading the pathogen to the uterus and Fallopian tubes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in asymptomatic male partners of infertile couples

Hamdad-Daoudi

Petit

2004

Journal of Medical Microbiology

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Three specimens from 111 asymptomatic male partners of infertile couples attending the Department of Urology in Amiens, France, were examined by the PCR COBAS AMPLICOR test (Roche Molecular Diagnostics) for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis. The specimens analysed were: first void urine (FVU), urine obtained after prostatic massage (UPM) and semen specimens. Serum from each patient was also obtained and analysed for the presence of IgG and IgA chlamydial antibodies by in-house microimmunofluorescence (MIF) and pELISA. C. trachomatis was detected by PCR in 5 . 4 % of FVU samples, 2 . 7 % of semen specimens and in 0 . 9 % of UPM samples. Two treatments for processing the samples (storage at À70 8C and heating to 95 8C) were routinely used before initial testing to reduce the effects of inhibitors of PCR. Despite these precautions, the PCR method revealed the presence of inhibitors in 7 . 3 % of semen specimens and 3 . 6 % of FVU samples. C. trachomatis was detected by PCR COBAS AMPLICOR in seven of 111 patients (6 . 3 %) and by serology in five of 111 patients (4 . 5 %). The detection of C. trachomatis in FVU, UPM and semen specimens can serve as a marker for the presence of this organism in the genital tract, and can be used as a reliable way of detecting asymptomatic carriers of infection. INTRODUCTIONChlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common sexually transmitted pathogens of humans, with an estimated 92 million new cases occurring worldwide each year (WHO, 2001). The number of cases is probably underestimated, particularly for men, who are less likely to seek diagnosis than women. C. trachomatis often causes asymptomatic genital tract infections in both men and women, and the high number of unrecognized infected individuals provides a reservoir for spreading the infection to men and women via sexual contact.Chlamydial infection in the male urethra can be complicated by inflammation of the epididymis (Stamm et al., 1984) and the prostate gland (Dan et al., 1991), but the role that C. trachomatis infection plays in male infertility is controversial.C. trachomatis can attach to spermatozoa (Hanssen & Mardh, 1984) and can be present in cytoplasmic droplets of spermatozoa (Villegas et al., 1991). Previous studies have found a correlation between genital chlamydial infection and sperm quality (Custo et al., 1989), although other studies have reported contradictory findings (Eggert- Kruse et al., 1996;Gdoura et al., 2001). It is important to resolve this issue, since chlamydiae present in semen could be transmitted by adhering to spermatozoa, which may serve as vectors, spreading the pathogen to the uterus and Fallopian tubes. In fact, studies have reported finding spermatozoa with adhering chlamydial bodies in the peritoneal fluid of women with salpingitis at laparoscopy (Friberg et al., 1987).The presence of C. trachomatis in semen emphasizes the potential risk of this route of transmission, and underlines the need for sensitive direct detection methods in this group of patients (Dieterle et al., 1995).Sc...

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“…In fact, a large number of studies have suggested that positive markers for Chlamydia infection are not associated with altered sperm parameters [18], [19], [46], [54]–[55]. Others, however, have found that Chlamydia infection correlates with reduced sperm motility [34]–[56], increased proportion of sperm abnormalities [57], significant reductions in semen density, sperm morphology, and viability [58] and increased likelihood of leukocytospermia [34]. In addition, Veznik et al (2004) reported decreases in seminal plasma, sperm mobility, velocity, and normal morphology in C. trachomatis –infected infertile patients compared with those without infection [59].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Other Sexually Transmitted Bacteria in Semen of Male Partners of Infertile Couples in Tunisia: The Effect on Semen Parameters and Spermatozoa Apoptosis Markers

et al. 2014

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This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasmas, and Ureaplasmas in semen samples of the male partners of infertile couples and to investigate whether Chlamydia trachomatis could initiate apoptosis in human spermatozoa. A total of 85 males partners of infertile couples undergoing routine semen analysis according to World Health Organization guidelines were included. Specimens were examined for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum by Real time PCR (qPCR). Semen specimens were analysed for the appearance of apoptotic markers (sperm DNA fragmentation, activated caspase 3 levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm)) using flow cytometry. C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, U. urealyticum, M genitalium were detected in semen samples of 13 (15.2%), 5 (5.8%), 5 (5.8%) and 3 (3.5%) male partners of infertile couples, respectively. M. hominis and U. parvum were detected in semen sample of only one patient (1.1%). The semen of infertile men positive for C. trachomatis showed lower mean of semen count and lower rapid progressive motility (category [a]) of spermatozoa compared to uninfected men with statistically significances (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively). Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated a significant increase of the mean rate of semen with low ΔΨm and caspase 3 activation of infertile men positive for C. trachomatis compared to uninfected men (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively). DNA fragmentation was also increased in sperm of infertile men positive for C. trachomatis compared to uninfected men but without statistical significances (p = 0.62). Chlamydial infection was associated to loss of ΔΨm and caspase 3activation. Thus, C. trachomatis infection could be incriminated in apoptosis induction of spermatozoa. These effects may explain the negative direct impact of C. trachomatis infection on sperm fertilizing ability.

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Chlamydial Infection and Male Infertility: An Epidemiological Study

Cited by 31 publications

References 2 publications

Electron Microscopy ofChlamydia trachomatisInfection of the Male Genital Tract

Electron Microscopy ofChlamydia trachomatisInfection of the Male Genital Tract

Assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in asymptomatic male partners of infertile couples

Molecular Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Other Sexually Transmitted Bacteria in Semen of Male Partners of Infertile Couples in Tunisia: The Effect on Semen Parameters and Spermatozoa Apoptosis Markers

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