Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Distribution of Human Papillomavirus and Antisperm Antibody in Semen and Its Association with Semen Parameters Among Infertile Men

Authors
Ahmad Piroozmand 1
Seyed Dawood Mousavi Nasab 2
Mahzad Erami 3
Seyed Mohammad Ali Hashemi 4
Elnaz Khodabakhsh 5
Nayebali Ahmadi 6
Zahra Vahedpoor 7
1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran; Autoimmune Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
2 Department of Research and Development, Production and Research Complex, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
3 Beheshti Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
4 Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
5 Infertility Clinic, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
6 Proteomics Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
7 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be associated with infertility. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as a potential agent in male infertility. Also, anti-sperm antibodies (ASA) have been detected in men with infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and association of HPV and ASA in infected semen of infertile men. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 96 infertile men referring to infertility treatment center of Kashan University of Medical Sciences during March 2017 till September 2017 in Iran. Semen analysis and diagnostic PCR test were performed for detection of HPV DNA. The semen parameters in HPV infected and ASA positive samples were compared with HPV non-infected and ASA negative samples. Chi square test was used to determine the correlation between variables and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: HPV DNA and ASA were detected in 17.4% and 15.2% of 96 semen samples, respectively. Semen volume, sperm count, sperm motility and the normal morphology rate were significantly decreased in HPV-positive subjects (p=0.004, p= 0.016, p<0.001, and p=0.017, respectively). Also, sperm motility was significantly decreased in ASA-positive subjects (p=0.002), also patients with HPV infection had a higher rate of ASA than the non-HPV group. In contrast to ASA, HPV infection had a significant correlation with education level (p=0.039). Conclusion: The findings suggest that asymptomatic seminal infection of HPV and ASA by adversely affecting sperm quality, in particular sperm motility and count, may play an important role in male infertility.
Keywords
Antisperm antibody
HPV
Male infertility
Semen parameter
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Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume 21, Issue 3
Summer 2020
Pages 183-188