Using the PCR and Blood Agar in Diagnosis of Semen Bacterial Contamination of Fertile and Infertile Men

One of the causes of male infertility is Genital tract infections (GTI). Considering the importance of GTI, widespread recognition of them seems necessary. we aimed to characterize and compare semen microbial populations in fertile and infertile men who referred to an infertility clinic in Yazd, Iran. 

Semen samples were collected from two groups of fertile (268) and infertile (210) men. Sperm analysis (concentration, morphology, viability and motility parameters) were performed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 guidelines laboratory manual. Bacterial isolation was performed in Sheep Blood Agar and Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar plates. For PCR, samples were analyzed with genus specific primers.

All semen characteristics were poor in the infertile group compared to those in the fertile men (p-value< 0.05). Enterococcus spp. (18.7%, 17.1%; p= 0.814), E. coli (7.9%, 11.4%; p= 0.486), Staphylococcus aureus (6.4%, 2.9%; p= 0.398) and Proteus mirabilis (0%, 2.9%; p= 0.002) were the most
common agents, respectively. Also, the results obtained from PCR were confirmed using culture-base method.

Proteus mirabilis contamination was identified in the infertile group. While no significant association was observed between male infertility and semen microbial populations, p. mirabilis may be the leading cause of reproduction impairment in men.