Viruses, bacteria and parasites: infection of the male genital tract and fertility

Abstract

Background Infertility affects one couple out of six worldwide. Male infertilty can result from congenital or acquired factors, of which pathogens that reach the genital tract through sexual contact or blood dissemination. The impact of major viral, bacterial and parasitic infections on the male genital tract and fertility has been summarized. Results and conclusions A systematic review of articles published in the Google Scholar and PubMed databases was conducted. It turns out that viruses, as well as bacteria and parasites are major inducers of male genital tract infections and ensuing infertility through damage to the organs and subsequent loss of function and/or through direct damage to the sperm cells. Moreover, not only male infertility results from such infections but these can also be transmitted to women and even to the offspring, thus highlighting the need to efficiently detect, treat and prevent them.

Case report: Filarial infection of a parti-coloured bat: Litomosa sp. adult worms in abdominal cavity and microfilariae in bat semen

“…An alternative migration route used by microfilariae to arrive at the processus vaginalis may be via the lymphatic vessels; observed, for example, in Brugia malayi infections ( 42 ). Interestingly, microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti have also been shown to infect testicular tissue ( 43 , 44 ) and follicular fluid in humans ( 45 ).…”

Güncel Üroloji Çalışmaları V

“…Çeşitli medikasyonlara bağlı olarak tiroid hormonlarının seviyesinin düşmesi veya prolaktin seviyelerindeki değişiklikler gibi durumlar hormonal aksın bozulması ile semen kalitesini etkileyebilir (48). Genellikle sporcular tarafından kullanılan anabolik steroidler oligospermi veya azospermiye yol açabilir (49)(50)(51). Erektil disfonksiyonda kullanılan bir fosfodiesteraz inhibi-törü olan sildenafilin sperm hareketliliği ve diğer parametreleri olumlu yönde etkilediği izlenmiştir (52)(53)(54).…”