- Title
- Detection of chlamydia infection within human testicular biopsies
- Creator
- Bryan, Emily R.; McLachlan, Robert I.; Rombauts, Luk; Katz, Darren J.; Yazdani, Anusch; Bogoevski, Kristofor; Chang, Crystal; Giles, Michelle L.; Carey, Alison J.; Armitage, Charles W.; Trim, Logan K.; McLaughlin, Eileen A.; Beagley, Kenneth W.
- Relation
- NHMRC.APP1062198 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1062198
- Relation
- Human Reproduction Vol. 34, Issue 10, p. 1891-1898
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dez169
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2019
- Description
- Study Question: Can Chlamydia be found in the testes of infertile men? Summary Answer: Chlamydia can be found in 16.7% of fresh testicular biopsies and 45.3% of fixed testicular biopsies taken from a selection of infertile men. What is known already: Male chlamydial infection has been understudied despite male and female infections occurring at similar rates. This is particularly true of asymptomatic infections, which occur in 50% of cases. Chlamydial infection has also been associated with increased sperm DNA damage and reduced male fertility. Study Design, Size, Duration: We collected diagnostic (fixed, n = 100) and therapeutic (fresh, n = 18) human testicular biopsies during sperm recovery procedures from moderately to severely infertile men in a cross-sectional approach to sampling. Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods: The diagnostic and therapeutic biopsies were tested for Chlamydia-specific DNA and protein, using real-time PCR and immunohistochemical approaches, respectively. Serum samples matched to the fresh biopsies were also assayed for the presence of Chlamydia-specific antibodies using immunoblotting techniques. Main Results and the Role of Chance: Chlamydial major outer membrane protein was detected in fixed biopsies at a rate of 45.3%. This was confirmed by detection of chlamydial DNA and TC0500 protein (replication marker). C. trachomatis DNA was detected in fresh biopsies at a rate of 16.7%, and the sera from each of these three positive patients contained C. trachomatis-specific antibodies. Overall, C. trachomatis-specific antibodies were detected in 72.2% of the serum samples from the patients providing fresh biopsies, although none of the patients were symptomatic nor had they reported a previous sexually transmitted infection diagnosis including Chlamydia. Limitations, Reasons for Caution: No reproductively healthy male testicular biopsies were tested for the presence of Chlamydia DNA or proteins or Chlamydia-specific antibodies due to the unavailability of these samples. Wider Implications for the Findings: Application of Chlamydia-specific PCR and immunohistochemistry in this human male infertility context of testicular biopsies reveals evidence of a high prevalence of previously unrecognised infection, which may potentially have a pathogenic role in spermatogenic failure.
- Subject
- Chlamydia trachomatis; STI; testicular infection; male infertility; Chlamydia-specific antibodies
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1445063
- Identifier
- uon:42487
- Identifier
- ISSN:0268-1161
- Language
- eng
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