SUMMARYAcute and chronic infections of the seminal tract are among the most common causes of male infertility. As at least half of male infertility cases are classified as idiopathic, some of these cases might be attributed to asymptomatic infection. The detection and quantification of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6) DNA in semen samples were performed. A total of 232 patients were divided into five groups: (i) infertile men with varicocoele; (ii) men with idiopathic infertility; (iii) infertile men with chronic inflammatory urogenital tract diseases (IUTD); (iv) fertile men with IUTD and (v) men whose partners had a history of pregnancy loss. In the study population, the prevalence of viral DNA was 17.7, 3.4% for EBV, 5.2% for CMV, 6.5% for HHV-6, 0.43% for EBV + CMV, 0.87% for EBV + HHV-6 and 1.3% for CMV + HHV-6. The median viral loads for EBV, CMV and HHV-6 were 500, 2250 and 250 copies/mL respectively. Of the sperm cell fractions, derived from infected samples 87.5% contained viral DNA. No association between EBV and fertility disorders or IUTD was found. CMV detection was much higher in the group of patients with infertility and concomitant IUTD compared with the other groups combined (18.5% vs. 5.4%, p = 0.03) and associated with reduced sperm cell count (39.5 9 10 6 /mL vs. 72.5 9 10 6 /mL, p = 0.036). Immunostaining of spermatozoa from infected samples and in vitro-infected cells detected CMV in sperm heads, tails and connecting pieces and revealed attachment to sperm membrane and intracellular localization. HHV-6 was the more common in fertile men with chronic IUTD than in the other groups combined (19% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.018) and had no effect on sperm parameters. The results suggest that both CMV and HHV-6 may contribute to the aetiology of IUTD and, moreover, CMV-associated IUTD can lead to male sterility.

The clinical significance of Ureaplasmas in urogenital pathology is reviewed. Ureaplasmas belong to the class Mollicutes. Asymptomatic carriage of these bacteria is common, and most individuals do not develop disease. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum are sexually transmitted bacteria among humans implicated in a variety of disease states including but not limited to: nongonococcal urethritis, adverse pregnancy outcomes, chorioamnionitis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonates. U. urealyticum has been associated with urethritis in men and is revealed in a high concentration that confirms its etiological role in the disease. Men with a high U. urealyticum load are considered for treatment, however, the data on the therapy efficiency have been insufficient so far. In symptomatic women, bacterial vaginosis should always be tested for, and the corresponding therapy should be prescribed in case of positive results.

Background. The incidence rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in different countries has attracted the attention of specialists from all over the world. The official rates of STI incidence in Russia are significantly lower than those in the United States. Objective. To assess the prevalence of STIs among patients in a network of federal laboratories. Methods. The prevalence analysis of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18 and herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1, 2 was performed on the basis of anonymous data from 40 521 patients examined for sexually transmitted pathogens by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The studied biomaterial was delivered from 656 laboratory departments located in 284 settlements of all federal districts of the Russian Federation from January 2017 to June 2019. Results. One and more of the eight pathogens were detected in 13.8% of patients, two or more pathogens simultaneously were detected in 1.4% of patients. The prevalence of viral infections was: 5.6% in HPV type 16, 1.8% in HPV type 18, 0.5% in HSV-1, and 1.6% in HSV-2. The highest percentage of patients in whom at least one infection was detected was in the age groups under 17 years (27.9%) and 1825 years (19.8%). The distribution by gender in the groups varied, inversely: women predominated in the group under 17 years old (69%), men predominated in the group over 46 years old (71%). The prevalence of pathogenic bacteria was: C. trachomatis 3.8%, M. genitalium 1.5%, N. gonorrhoeae 0.5%, T. vaginalis 0.3%. Discussion. The official incidence of STIs in Russia is significantly lower than that in the United States, which, in our opinion, may indicate not the stable situation in our country infection-wise, but inefficiency of registering STIs in Russia. Conclusion. The data from the federal network of laboratories indicate a high prevalence of STIs in the Russian Federation. The existing STIs accounting system requires modernization. Introduction of the state national program for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of STIs can be useful to reduce the spread of infections, improve the reproductive health of the population, and reduce the incidence of reproductive cancer.

Objectives. To present a case report of male infertility associated with cytomegalovirus infection and the outcome of antiviral treatment.Clinical observation. A 31-year-old man presented with a history of 6 years of infertility. No pathology was revealed in his wife. High loads of cytomegalovirus (CMV) were detected by PCR: in expressed prostatic secretion (EPS)  8700 copies/ml, in ejaculate – 598 440 copies/ml. Sperm examination revealed necrozoospermia and leukospermia. CMV-associated accessory gland infection was verified. The patient was treated with valacyclovir 500 bid for 90 days and interferon α2β suppository (Viferon®) 1 million IU for 30 days. All sperm parameters improved in 1 month after initiation of antiviral treatment. Sperm concentration and motility increased × 1.5 and × 1.4 respectively, sperm viability and leukocyte count achieved reference values.  At the same time, CMV loads decreased: EPS to 300 copies/ml, the ejaculate to 54 000 copies/ml. After 3 months  (by the end of the antiviral treatment): EPS-negative, the ejaculate – 6060 copies/ml; after 6 months: EPS – negative, the ejaculate 3900 copies/ml. Within 6 months, the woman became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby girl. After 3 years, there was a second pregnancy and the birth of a healthy boy.Conclusion. The male factor has been established as the cause of infertility in a married couple; the only probable etiological agent of pathozoospermia was cytomegalovirus infection. The use of complex antiviral and immunotherapy (interferon α2β with antioxidants, Viferon®) provided positive dynamics in clinical, sperm and laboratory parameters, which led to the conception and birth of two children.