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Possible role of Chlamydia trachomatis in the male partner of infertile couples

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Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection, with an estimated 92 million new cases occurring each year worldwide. The aim of the present study was to detect the microorganism from semen samples of asymptomatic male partners of infertile couples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Semen and blood specimens were obtained from 93 infertile and 93 fertile men attending an infertility center by our diagnostic laboratory for the detection of C. trachomatis. The presence of C. trachomatis was examined by PCR assay. Serum IgG and IgA antibodies to C. trachomatis were also monitored using ELISA in all samples. The rates of C. trachomatis infection by PCR were 19.4% and 7.5% in infertile and fertile men, correspondingly, which was significantly different using χ 2 test (p = 0.01). The prevalence of IgG and IgA antibody levels were 4.3% and 2.2% (in infertile) and 3.2% and 1.1% (in fertile men), respectively. The present study showed a remarkable correlation between infections caused by C. trachomatis and infertility in men. Our data revealed that C. trachomatis caused a persistent infection among infertile couples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

    Zahra Noruziyan, Rasoul Roghanian & Nasser Golbang

  2. Department of Food Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Saeid Hosseinzadeh

  3. Royan Institute, Isfahan, Iran

    Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani

Authors
  1. Zahra Noruziyan
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  2. Rasoul Roghanian
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  3. Saeid Hosseinzadeh
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  4. Nasser Golbang
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  5. Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani
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Correspondence to Rasoul Roghanian.

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Noruziyan, Z., Roghanian, R., Hosseinzadeh, S. et al. Possible role of Chlamydia trachomatis in the male partner of infertile couples. Comp Clin Pathol 22, 421–424 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-012-1426-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-012-1426-5

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