Okoror LE and Agbonlahor DE
Background: Chlamydia trachomatis has been linked with female infertility in male infertility and sequelae especially in developing countries which is the rationale for this study. This study view Chlamydia trachomatis as causing low sperm count in males which is a factor of male fertility.
Methods: A total of 666 sperm samples were collected from males with low sperm count and another 666 from normal individuals to serve as control. Blood samples (n=855) were collected from cases and control. The sperm samples were analysed using the WHO parameters of 2010. Sperm samples were stained using the Giemsa technique. Sperm were analysed for Chlamydia trachomatis using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The presence of other microorganisms likely to be incriminated with low sperm count was detected by culture unto nutrient agar plates, blood agar plates and Thayer Martins medium. Any sample containing any microorganism capable of causing low sperm count was eliminated from the study. The blood samples were analysed using the microimmunofluorescence assay for Chlamydia trachomatis IgM.
Results: Of the 666 cases only 417(62.6%) were positive while the control had only 225 (33.3) positive. There was significant difference between the cases and control and they both varied in the same direction statistically. The result from the IgM Chlamydia trachomatis antibody also gave a significant difference in both cases and control. The variation between ages was not significant except in older ages of both cases and control. The 582 semen samples positive for both Chlamydia trachomatis culture and IgM analysed for WHO sperm count parameters, 432 of the cases fell short of the normal sperm count along with 150 of the controls.
Conclusion: This study then confirms Chlamydia trachomatis as a major cause of low sperm count and recommends the screening for Chlamydia trachomatis in cases of low sperm counts.
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