Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial disease. The objective of this study was to establish the presence/absence of C. trachomatis in 98 patients with chronic complaints about the prostate and to evaluate the role of this bacterium in the inflammation of the gland. We performed culture and microscopical examination of pre-massage/post-massage urine and expressed prostatic secretions (EPS). In all cases, culture on McCoy cells and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the EPS was performed. Based on laboratory findings in 53 cases (54.08%), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus were isolated and accepted as causative agents of chronic bacterial prostatitis. Forty-five patients were categorised as patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The results from the PCR and the cell culture for detection of C. trachomatis were as follows - two positive probes detected at the same time by applying PCR and cultivation and 1 positive only by PCR but not by cultivation on the cell line. Based on these results, it is concluded that C. trachomatis is not so frequently detected in our patients. C. trachomatis may be accepted as one of the aetiological agents of chronic prostatitis and testing for this infection is highly recommended when presumption for chronic prostatitis is apparent.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease supposed to cause urethritis, epididymitis, prostatitis and infertility in men. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of C. trachomatis infection in male partners of infertile couples at childbearing age. Sixty infertile couples and a control group of 40 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Urethral swabs were taken from all the male participants and cervical swabs from the female partners of the infertile couples. Culturing on McCoy cell line and PCR were the methods used for detection of the infection. C. trachomatis was found in five out of the 60 male urethral samples. Three of the female partners of these five positive males were diagnosed with C. trachomatis infection, too. We registered a woman with C. trachomatis infection whose partner's samples were negative for the bacterium. The control group showed one specimen positive for C. trachomatis. The frequency of C. trachomatis infection was 8.3% in the male partners of infertile couples at childbearing age when compared with 2.5% in the control group. It is most likely that infertility in the couples with chlamydial infection was due to the pathogen studied.

The effect of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis over the sperm quality is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine their prevalence in infertile Bulgarian men. A total of 281 men were examined by applying mRT-PCR. The registered prevalence was as follows: C. trachomatis - 13.9%, U. urealyticum - 19.2%, M. hominis - 9.9%. Co-infection was established in eight swabs. This first in Bulgaria to study for detection of chlamydia and mycoplasmas in infertile men by mRT-PCR demonstrates higher prevalence of the tested microorganisms in the infertile group toward the control one.

No abstract

PURPOSE: The role of Ureaplasma urealyticum (U. urealyticum), Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) and Mycoplasma genitalium (M. genitalium) in male genital disorders deserves a more intensive research. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of these pathogens in symptomatic and asymptomatic sexually active males in Bulgaria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 260 symptomatic and asymptomatic men were included in the study. Their urethral swabs were examined for the presence of the mentioned microorganisms by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The prevalence rates of these pathogens were the following: U. urealyticum-4,6%; M. hominis-0,8%, and M. genitalium-3,1%. No coinfections were registered at all. CONCLUSION: The present investigation of these mycoplasmas is the first attempt to provide certain epidemiological information about these infections in Bulgaria. Their continuous monitoring is of practical importance for public health.