Semen Culture, Leukocytospermia, and the Presence of Sperm Antibodies in Seminal Hyperviscosity

Abstract

Seminal hyperviscosity is generally thought to reveal genitourinary infection. The aim of the present work was to study this hypothesis. A total of 65 semen samples were obtained from males presenting for infertility screening. The samples were evaluated according to WHO criteria and microbiologically investigated, including culturing for Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum, and microscopic observation of Chlamydia trachomatis by a direct fluorescence assay. Determination of local antisperm antibodies was performed. Semen was categorized according to consistency: normal (n = 31) and high (n = 34). No difference was recorded either in the number of positive cultures, or in the number of species found in each sample. The number of white blood cells and the percentage of antibody-bound sperm showed no difference in the groups under study. There was no association between seminal hyperviscosity, positivity in semen cultures, number of species isolated in semen cultures, leukospermia, or presence of sperm antibodies. Further studies should be performed considering the evolution of the genital-infected patients to clarify the etiology of the hyperviscosity.

IgA ANTIBODIES TOCHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATISAND SEMINAL PARAMETERS IN ASYMPTOMATIC INFERTILE MALES

“…Seminal antibodies to C. trachomatis are not associated with leucocyte count and leucocytospermia do not appear to have an effect either on spermatic function or the immune system response to sperm [16]. A lack of association between chlamydial antibodies in semen and leucocytospermia is consistent with the results of Munuce et al, who do not find differences in the seminal leucocyte concentration comparing two groups of men with and without C. trachomatis genital infection [23].…”

“…In this and other studies [11,12,16] an association between the presence of antichlamydial IgA antibodies in ejaculate and some seminal variables such as sperm count and motility in semen was not found. These results suggest that IgA antibodies to C. trachomatis had no effect on sperm motility, since these antibodies are not associated with increased antispermatic antibodies levels, as described by Habermann/Krause [16] and Munuce et al [23].…”

Human semen hyperviscosity: prevalence, pathogenesis and therapeutic aspects

“…Munuce et al [17] employed treatment with antibiotics in subjects with infections of the genital tract, with and without SHV. Therapy was based on the respective microorganism and antibiogram.…”

“…However, it should be noted that there is a good deal of disagreement in this field. According to Munuce et al [17], there is no association between SHV and semen culture positivity, leukospermia or the presence of sperm antibodies. In addition, there is no correlation between SHV and human immunodeficiency virus infection [18].…”

The Role of Chlamydia trachomatis in Male Infertility

“…However, Bezold et al found no difference in prevalence of C. trachomatis and other pathogens between asymptomatic male infertile patients with and without leukocytospermia [82]. Also, other authors found no relation between infection with C. trachomatis and leukocyte count in semen [65,83,84].…”