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Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis infections and semen quality in 19,098 infertile men in China

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to determine the incidence of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis infections in infertile and fertile men and to investigate their effects on the semen quality. The study also aimed to analyze the drug susceptibility of UU and MH to provide guidance for reasonable antibiotic use.

Methods

A total of 19,098 semen specimens were obtained from infertile men at our hospital from January to December 2014. In addition to these specimens, 3368 semen specimens of sperm were obtained from donors at the sperm bank of our hospital from January 2011 to December 2014. Semen analysis was performed using the methods outlined by the World Health Organization.

Results

The prevalence of UU and MH significantly differed between infertile and fertile men. The mean progressive motility, total motility, and normal forms in the semen samples of infertile males positive for UU significantly differed from the corresponding values of uninfected men. However, the semen parameters did not differ between MH-infected and uninfected men. In the antibiotic sensitivity test, UU, MH, and UU mixed with MH were all found susceptible to doxycycline and josamycin with drug resistance rates below 6 %, but both species were highly resistant to ciprofloxacin.

Conclusions

Clinical assessment revealed a significant relationship between UU and MH infections and male infertility. UU was found to significantly affect sperm quality, but this was not the case with MH. Doxycycline and josamycin should be preferred for clinically treating UU and MH infections.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Central South University (2015zzts102).

Author contributions

Huang C involved in project development, data analysis, and proof reading and wrote the manuscript. Long XY wrote the manuscript and involved in data collection and analysis. Jing S, Xu KR, and Wang SY edited the manuscript and involved in proof reading. Fan LQ and Zhu WB involved in project development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China

    Chuan Huang, Shuang Jing, Liqing Fan, Kongrong Xu, Siyang Wang & Wenbing Zhu

  2. The Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, No. 87, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China

    Xingyu Long, Liqing Fan & Wenbing Zhu

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  1. Chuan Huang
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  2. Xingyu Long
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  3. Shuang Jing
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  4. Liqing Fan
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  5. Kongrong Xu
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  6. Siyang Wang
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  7. Wenbing Zhu
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Correspondence to Wenbing Zhu.

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Huang, C., Long, X., Jing, S. et al. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis infections and semen quality in 19,098 infertile men in China. World J Urol 34, 1039–1044 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-015-1724-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-015-1724-z

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