Adult ; Azoospermia/parasitology* ; Hormones/blood* ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/parasitology* ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Testicular Diseases/parasitology* ; Trichomonas Infections/parasitology* ; Trichomonas vaginalis

OBJECTIVESTo determine the level of anti-Toxoplasma antibody in serum of infertile couples to explore the relationship between toxoplasma infection and infertility.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the anti-Toxoplasma antibody, antisperm antibody (AsAb) and anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) in serum of 178 couples with infertility and 190 couples who had normal pregnant history.

RESULTSThe positive result of Toxoplasma infection in the infertile couples was significantly higher than that in fertile couples which was 34.83% vs 12.11% (chi 2 = 26.72, P < 0.01) with the odds ratio 3.88. The positive result of serum AsAb in the Toxoplasma infected group was significantly higher than that in the no Toxoplasma infected group (32.50% vs 15.94%, chi 2 = 10.76, P < 0.01) with the odds ratio 2.54.

CONCLUSIONSToxoplasma infection was related to infertility. The Toxoplasma infection and was posibly related to the antisperm antibodies which can be involved in the pathogenisis of infertility.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; etiology ; parasitology ; Male ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis ; complications ; epidemiology ; parasitology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the Toxoplasma gondii (TOX) infection in males with sterility and the effect of the infection on the reproductive function of males.

METHODSEnzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect TOX-CAg, TOX-IgG and TOX-IgM in the peripheral blood of male patients with sterility.

RESULTSAmong 100 cases of male sterility, 7 were TOX-IgG positive (7%), 16 TOX-IgM positive (16%) and 13 TOX-CAg positive (13%). Among 100 normal males, 7 were TOX-IgG positive (7%), 3 TOX-IgM positive (3%) and 1 TOX-CAg positive (1%).

CONCLUSIONTOX infection may affect the fertility of males and cause male sterility. For this reason, males should prevent themselves from TOX infection.

Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan ; blood ; Antigens, Protozoan ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; Male ; Toxoplasma ; immunology ; Toxoplasmosis ; complications ; epidemiology