Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Escherichia coli: Tracking from sperm fertility potential to assisted reproductive outcomes

Abstract

Objective: Bacteriospermia and urogenital infections are common problems in male infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bacteriospermia on sperm parameters and clinical outcomes in semen samples infected with two common bacteria (Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Escherichia coli) in northern Iran.Methods: Microbiological tests were performed to isolate and identify organisms from 435 semen samples from infertile couples. Semen samples were assessed according to the World Health Organization criteria. The protamine status, chromatin structure, chromatin condensation, and acrosome reaction of sperm and assisted reproductive outcomes were determined in couples with different male infertility factors.Results: Among the total cases, the two most prevalent pathogens were considered: S. saprophyticus (38.2%) and E. coli (52.9%). In the semen samples infected with E. coli, the spontaneous acrosome reaction and abnormal chromatin condensation were more common (p<0.05). Significant increases in abnormal chromatin condensation and deprotamination were seen in the presence of S. saprophyticus. In washed semen, tight adhesion between the sperm midpiece and S. saprophyticus was observed. There was also a significant decrease in the fertilization rate using semen samples infected with S. saprophyticus and E. coli during in vitro fertilization cycles (p<0.001). In addition, the presence of S. saprophyticus and E. coli in semen samples was associated with a lower likelihood of clinical pregnancy in couples with various factors of male infertility.Conclusion: Poor results of assisted reproductive techniques may be correlated with semen samples infected with two common bacteria in northern Iran.

The Impact of Bacteriocenoses on Sperm Vitality, Immunological and Oxidative Characteristics of Ram Ejaculates: Does the Breed Play a Role?

“…Some bacteria, including Escherichia and Klebsiella , adhere to the sperm surface and/or receptors on the sperm flagellum, leading to motility suppression [ 27 , 28 ]. Other bacterial species, such as representatives of the Staphylococcus genus, may cause permanent sperm agglutination, through the secretion of agglutination or immobilization factors [ 29 ]. Furthermore, bacterial metabolites such as lipopolysaccharide, hemolysin, and peptidoglycan fragments may cause the flagellum to degenerate, tear off, or break, which has a negative effect on the ability of spermatozoa to reach the oocyte [ 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Successful pregnancy with intracytoplasmic sperm injection after bacterial contamination of embryo culture in in vitro fertilization: a case report

“…Tight adhesion to the sperm midpiece after centrifugation has been described with Staphylococcus saprophyticus , but not with E . coli [ 16 ].…”

Indokolt-e a spermaminták bakteriológiai szűrése in vitro fertilizáció előtt?

“…Egy 2021. évi iráni tanulmány során E. coli és Staphylococcus saprophyticus mellett szignifikánsan csökkent spermaminőséget figyeltek meg a deprotaminációban, a kromatinkondenzációban, az életképességben és az acrosomareakcióban, emellett a S. saprophyticus spermiumfarokhoz való szoros adhézióját látták a centrifugálás után is [38]. Ez szerepet játszhat az ICSI-vel összehasonlítva az IVF-kezelésnél talált alacsonyabb megtermékenyülési arányban bacteriospermia esetén.…”