title: Absence of chlamydial deoxyribonucleic acid from testicular and epididymal samples from men with obstructive azoospermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify Chlamydia trachomatis DNA by polymerase chain reaction in the upper genital tract of men with obstructive azoospermia compared with men seeking vasectomy reversal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases were men with idiopathic obstructive azoospermia, and controls were men with azoospermia secondary to vasectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chlamydia trachomatis-specific DNA test by polymerase chain reaction on testicular and epididymal biopsy samples, as well as epididymal aspirate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presence of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We did not detect the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis-specific DNA by polymerase chain reaction in the epididymis or testis of 36 asymptomatic men with obstructive azoospermia (14 cases, 22 controls).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our hypothesis that unrecognized, asymptomatic chlamydial infection will lead to complete bilateral obstruction of the male genital tract remains unproven.
authors.affiliation: Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom. ogy302@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sreebala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sripada
authors.forename: Maria Rosario
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Amezaga
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Hamish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Templeton
authors.forename: Siladitya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004822:Epididymis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013737:Testis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014659:Vasectomy
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial