Chlamydia trachomatis Antibodies and Other Bacterial Isolates Associated with Adult Males Attending Infertility Clinics in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Male infertility cases are a major concern in infertility clinics. This study sought to determine the seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies (CTA) and isolate bacterial agents associated with men attending infertility clinics in Calabar. Blood and semen samples were obtained from 172 men between 27 and 46 years of age. The prevalence of CTA was investigated using the rapid screening kits – immuno-comb and Bivalent Chlamydia trachomatis IgG kits. Semen samples were immediately analyzed and cultured on blood agar (BA), chocolate agar (CHOC) and cysteine lactose electrolyte-deficient agar (CLED). The BA and CHOC culture plates were incubated anaerobically in 5% CO2, and CLED plate aerobically, at 37OC for 24 to 48 hours. Bacterial isolates were identified with standard biochemical tests. Out of 172 participants examined, 134 (77.9%) were primary infertility cases, 38 (22.1%) were secondary infertility cases, while 78 (45.3%) participants had oligospermia. Overall prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection (CTI) was 13% (22/172), while 52 (30%) had microbial growth from the culture of their semen. Out of 78 oligospermic individuals, 14 (17.9%) had significant antibody titre (signifying CTI); only 8.5% (8/94) of the normospermia individuals had significant antibody titre, although this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Out of the participants with CTI, 6 (4.5%) were primary infertility cases, while 16 (42.1%) were secondary infertility cases; 63.6% (14/22) were oligospermic, while 36.4% (8/22) were normospermic. Microbial growth was detected in the semen culture of 52 (30%) of all participants in the study; 50% of which was Staphylococcus aureus, and the least was Neiserria gonorrhoeae (4%). Most of the participants with primary (70.1%), secondary infertility (68.4%) and oligospermia (74.4%) did not have microbial growth from their semen culture. Serological tests to detect Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies need to be routinely carried out on intending fathers so that prompt and proper treatment could commence.