Several authors have reported genital tract involvement in urinary schistosome infection, resulting in local lesions. Pathological changes in the lower and upper genital tract may affect couple sexuality and lead to infertility. Upon informed consent, 123 female subjects responded to a questionnaire related to infertility and history of urinary schistosome infection. A gynecological examination was carried out to assess lower and upper reproductive tract pathologies. Each participant submitted a urine sample for assessment of current urinary schistosome infection. Almost half of the women examined had signs of primary (21%) or secondary infertility (28%). Similarly, almost half of the urine samples collected (44.8%) were positive for microhematuria. The prevalence of infertility was significantly higher among women with microhematuria or a history of hematuria (χ²=5.42, p=0.06). Women married more than once were 2.64 times more likely to report a history of hematuria than those married only once (p=0.06). Individuals who reported dyspareunia were 2.63 times more likely to report a history of hematuria (p=0.004). There was an association between hematuria, history of hematuria, female genital schistosomiasis and infertility. An in depth assessment of the causal relationship between urinary schistosomiasis and infertility is warranted.

AIMTo evaluate the effect of Schistosoma intercalatum infestation on the testicular function of mice.

METHODSMale BALB C mice were infested by immersion of the tail and hind feet into the water with 50 or 100 cercariae of Cameroon strain S. intercalatum. Sixty days later the animals were killed, blood was collected and the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicles were dissected and weighed. The plasma and testicular testosterone were evaluated with radioimmunoassay, the seminal vesicular fructose with colorimetric method, and the histology of testis and cauda epididymis observed under light microscope. The intensity of infestation was estimated in terms of S. intercalatum egg load in the liver.

RESULTSIn infested mice, the testicular weight did not change significantly while the epididymal and seminal vesicular weights were significantly lowered compared to the controls. Furthermore, the fructose levels in the seminal vesicle fluid were significantly (P<0.01) reduced in about 50% of infested mice. S. intercalatum infestation also decreased the plasma and testicular testosterone concentrations. Histological studies indicated that the spermatogenesis, the testicular interstitial tissue and the cauda epididymis were qualitatively normal. Parasite eggs were not found in these organs. The mean seminiferous tubular diameter did not show significant differences between the infested and control mice.

CONCLUSIONS. intercalatum infestation impairs testicular function.

Animals ; Epididymis ; pathology ; Fructose ; metabolism ; Liver ; parasitology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Size ; Parasite Egg Count ; Schistosoma ; Schistosomiasis ; blood ; physiopathology ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testicular Diseases ; parasitology ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism