Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis urogenital infections associate with semen inflammation and decreased sperm quality

PAIRA, DANIELA A.; OLIVERA, CAROLINA; MARTINEZ, MARIA SOL; FERREYRA, FERNANDO NICOLAS; TISSERA, ANDREA D.; MOLINA, ROSA I.; OLMEDO, JOSE J.; RIVERO, VIRGINIA E.; SAKA, HECTOR A.; MOTRICH, RUBEN D.

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta SAIC, SAI&FAIC, SAFIS 2022; 2022

Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Mycoplasma hominis (MH) are among the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections proposed to induce urogenital inflammation and impair sperm quality. However, the topic remains controversial since contradictory findings have been reported. Herein, we performed a comprehensive analysis of UU and MH urogenital infections and their association with semen inflammation and sperm quality parameters in a cohort of men with couple’s primary infertility undergoing initial infertility evaluation or with lower urinary tract symptoms and no infertility-related complaints. A total of 212 patients were included. Semen samples were collected by masturbation and the detection of common uropathogens was performed by PCR. Semen analysis was assessed according to the WHO manual. Levels of IL-8, TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, IFNγ, IL-10 and IL-17A and leukocyte cell subsets were analyzed by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. Data were analyzed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests and the chi-square test as appropriate. Overall, UU and MH infection was detected in 17.0% and 23.6% of patients, respectively, whereas the co-infection was detected in 3.8% of patients only. Remarkably, similar infection frequencies were found in the different patient subpopulations analyzed. Moreover, infections associated with elevated semen levels of TNF, IL-1, IL6 and/or increased counts of total leukocytes and their subsets, including CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes and neutrophils. In addition, MH infection and the co-infection with UU associated with impairments in sperm quality variables. Our results indicate that UU and MH urogenital infections induce urogenital inflammation and decrease sperm quality thus impairing male fertility potential. Screening for these infections and performing a comprehensive analysis of leukocyte subsets and cytokines in semen would be clinically helpful in the diagnosis and follow up of male urogenital infection.