Influence of several uropathogenic microorganisms on human sperm motility parameters in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
The effects of certain uropathogenic microorganisms (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis) on human sperm motility characteristics were studied in vitro.


METHODS
In 10 healthy fertile men, ejaculates were aseptically obtained by masturbation and with a swim-up technique, a sperm suspension of high motility and purity was obtained. Several uropathogenic bacteria were obtained from outpatients with genitourinary tract infections. The sperm suspension was incubated with the pathogens at a bacteria: sperm ratio of 50:1 at 37deg. The sperm mobility parameters were estimated with a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) provided with a multiple-exposure photography system (Madi Corp., Zhejiang, China). Measurements were carried out at 0, 2 and 4 hours of incubation.


RESULTS
Staphylococcus aureus significantly decreased the sperm motility and viability, but Staphylococcus epidermidis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Staphylococcus aureus has an inhibitory effect on human sperm motility in vitro.
D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000473:pathology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis; D014389:Tuberculosis, Male Genital / Q000473:pathology