title: Molecular detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and other sexually transmitted bacteria in semen of male partners of infertile couples in Tunisia: the effect on semen parameters and spermatozoa apoptosis markers.
abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasmas, and Ureaplasmas in semen samples of the male partners of infertile couples and to investigate whether Chlamydia trachomatis could initiate apoptosis in human spermatozoa. A total of 85 males partners of infertile couples undergoing routine semen analysis according to World Health Organization guidelines were included. Specimens were examined for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum by Real time PCR (qPCR). Semen specimens were analysed for the appearance of apoptotic markers (sperm DNA fragmentation, activated caspase 3 levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm)) using flow cytometry. C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, U. urealyticum, M genitalium were detected in semen samples of 13 (15.2%), 5 (5.8%), 5 (5.8%) and 3 (3.5%) male partners of infertile couples, respectively. M. hominis and U. parvum were detected in semen sample of only one patient (1.1%). The semen of infertile men positive for C. trachomatis showed lower mean of semen count and lower rapid progressive motility (category [a]) of spermatozoa compared to uninfected men with statistically significances (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively). Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated a significant increase of the mean rate of semen with low ΔΨm and caspase 3 activation of infertile men positive for C. trachomatis compared to uninfected men (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively). DNA fragmentation was also increased in sperm of infertile men positive for C. trachomatis compared to uninfected men but without statistical significances (p = 0.62). Chlamydial infection was associated to loss of ΔΨm and caspase 3activation. Thus, C. trachomatis infection could be incriminated in apoptosis induction of spermatozoa. These effects may explain the negative direct impact of C. trachomatis infection on sperm fertilizing ability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and research laboratory "Microorganismes et Pathologies Humaines", Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hanen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sellami
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and research laboratory "Microorganismes et Pathologies Humaines", Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Abir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Znazen
authors.affiliation: Histology Embryology Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Afifa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sellami
authors.affiliation: Sfax Regional Center of Blood Transfusion, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hela
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mnif
authors.affiliation: Sfax Regional Center of Blood Transfusion, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nour
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Louati
authors.affiliation: Histology Embryology Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Soumaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Zarrouk
authors.affiliation: Histology Embryology Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keskes
authors.affiliation: Histology Embryology Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rebai
authors.affiliation: Unit Research of Toxicology-Microbiology Environmental and Health, Sciences Faculty of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Radhouane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gdoura
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and research laboratory "Microorganismes et Pathologies Humaines", Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Adnene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008875:Middle Aged; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*; D014416:Tunisia; D014509:Ureaplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003609:Dactinomycin; C025942:7-aminoactinomycin D; D053148:Caspase 3