Chlamydia trachomatis occurrence and its impact on sperm quality in chronic prostatitis patients.

MOTRICH RD; CUFFINI C; MACKERN OBERTI JP; MACCIONI M; RIVERO VE

THE JOURNAL OF INFECTION.

Elsevier

Lugar: Sheffield; Año: 2005 vol. 53 p. 175 - 175

0163-4453

p class="abstract">OBJECTIVES: The role of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis and its impact on male fertility remain controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of chlamydial infection in chronic prostatitis patients and its impact on semen quality. METHODS: Urine and semen samples were assayed for the presence of microbial infection. CT-specific IgG and IgA antibodies were measured in serum and seminal plasma. Semen parameter analysis, anti-sperm antibody determinations and inflammatory cytokines measurements were performed. RESULTS: CT was detected in 10% of semen from chronic prostatitis patients. CT-specific IgG and IgA were found in 7.5% and 32.5% of the seminal plasma and in 15.0% and 2.5% of the serum samples from patients. Most of the patients that evidenced CT infection also evidenced CT-specific antibodies either in semen or in serum. We found that chlamydial infection has no detrimental effects on sperm quality. We n