The Effect of Trichomonas vaginalis and some Urogenital Bacteria on Male Fertility in Maysan Province, Iraq

Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis and associated bacteria are important urogenital pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of T.  vaginalis and its associated bacteria on semen and sperm parameters related to male fertility. Urine and semen samples were collected  from 97 males, whose ages between 18-50 years. Semen and sperm parameters, such as semen volume, sperm count, sperm concentration, sperm motility, leucocytes/pus cells, and erythrocytes, were evaluated according to the WHO instructions. Conventional-  PCR and real-time quantitative PCR were used to detect T. vaginalis infection. Amie's-transport, blood-agar, MacConkey-agar, Chocolate- agar, Thayer-Martin-agar, and Mannitol-salt-agar were used to culture bacteria in urine, and the Vitek2 system was used to differentiate  bacteria. Samples that showed positive microscopic examination for bacteria but were not culturable were diagnosed using PCR. T. vaginalis and bacterial infection rates were 31.8% and 17.5%, respectively. T. vaginalis, bacteria, and both together caused a decrease in  some qualitative and quantitative parameters of semen and sperm such as a decline in sperm total count by 46.5, 63.46, and 65.67%  respectively, sperm concentration by 6.27, 15.37, and 44.27% respectively, sperm motility by 67.63, 66.18 and 66.75% respectively, semen  volume by 42.2, 36.4 and 63.86% respectively. They caused increases of 100.92, 16.89, and 84.56%, respectively, and sperm death by 36.58,  80.0%, 93%, and 60.77%, respectively. In addition, they caused an increase in WBCs/pus cells and RBCs in the semen and urine. Four  bacteria species, Pantoea spp., Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Methylobacterium spp. were detected in urine, and  10 species, Enterobacter aerogenes, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas putida, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Aeromonas sobria,  Burkholderia cepacia, Staphylococcus aureus, Aerococcus viridans, Pseudomonas androgens and Staphylococcus epidermidis were  detected in semen. In addition, PCR identified three unculturable species: one in urine (Holomonas spp.), and two in semen (Lactobacillus  jensenii and Holomonas spp.), S. aureus had the highest frequency in urine and semen of (32%).