Culture of seminal fluid in infertile men and relationship to semen evaluation

Abstract

Bacterial flora of the seminal fluid and its influence on semen quality, was examined in 225 asymptomatic unselected men. Each semen sample was cultured aerobically, anaerobically, for genital mycoplasmas, and for Chlamydia trachomatis. Semen analysis was made according to standard methods recommended by the W.H.O. All 225 semen samples had microbial isolates. All isolates had colony counts of 10(2) colony forming units (cfu/ml). Thirty-three cases had greater than 10(2) cfu/ml, 85 cases had greater than 10(3) cfu/ml and 78 cases greater than 10(5) cfu/ml. The most common organisms isolated were Ureaplasma urealyticum in 86 samples and C. trachomatis in 26 samples. The most frequent abnormal parameters were viability (117 of 212, 52%), motility (85 of 212, 40%) and number of sperm cells (74 of 225, 32.8%). No significant correlation was found between abnormal semen parameters and presence of U. urealyticum, and C. trachomatis. We concluded that asymptomatic bacteriospermia (infection) in the semen did not significantly affect the count, motility or morphologic features of the specimen.

The incidence and effect of bacteriospermia and elevated seminal leukocytes on semen parameters

“…In a study by Balmelli et al (37), which is the second largest study of bacteriospermia in the literature, with 3,196 infertile males, the Enterococcipositive rate of 6.1% and E. coli-positive rate of 1.7% are very similar to those in this study, where the rates are 8.6% and 2.5% of the total study population, respectively. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were not significantly affected in this study's bacteriospermic samples, which has been reported in many other studies investigating bacteriospermia in subfertile patients (38)(39)(40). Although a study by Rodin et al demonstrated that samples with Streptococcus viridans and E. fecalis (but not other bacterial species) negatively affected semen quality (34), the current study did not associate any specific bacterial species (specifically E. fecalis and E. coli) with deterioration in sperm count or quality.…”

<i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> Infection in the Semen of Asymptomatic Infertile Men: Detection of the Antigen by in situ Hybridization

“…The spread of the patho gen by retrograde ascent into the ejaculatory duct via uri nary reflux can cause prostatovesiculitis and epididymitis [3], C. trachomatis infection may affect fertility by induc ing sperm autoantibodies [4,5] or by impairing sperm quality [6], Screening for the presence of C. trachomatis in the semen of asymptomatic infertile men is, therefore, rel evant. However, the sensitivity of C. trachomatis screen ing by culture of mammalian cell monolayers, enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), or direct immuno fluorescence with specific monoclonal antibody is limited [7,8].…”

Chlamydia Trachomatis Detected by Ligase Chain Reaction in the Semen of Asymptomatic Patients Without Pyospermia or Pyuria

“…The effect of latent C. trachomatis on semen quality and urogenital organs is debatable [5,9,10]. There have been few studies on the long-term consequences of persistent asymptomatic C. trachomatis infections of the male genital tract [9].…”

“…Gregoriou et al [5] demonstrated that asymptomatic infection in the semen does not significantly affect the count, motility, or morphologic features of the specimen. In this study, no correlation was found between C. trachomatis infection and semen quality.…”

“…The role of semen microbiology in treating cases of male infertility remains controversial [5,9,10]. Chlamydia trachomatis infections of the male and female genital tracts are often asymptomatic, and may thus persist undetected for long periods of time.…”