Prevalence of chlamydia and levels of seminal antisperm antibody and oxidative stress markers of infertile men in Calabar, Southern Nigeria

Iya Eze Bassey; Idongesit KokoAbasi Paul Isong; Uwem Okon Akpan; Bebe Emini Eleng; Euphoria Chimuanya Akwiwu; Stephen Godwin Agbara; Edoise Momodu Isiwele; Alphonsus Ekpe Udoh

doi:10.52229/ajahs.v8i2.1883

Iya Eze Bassey University of Calabar http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7644-2508
Idongesit KokoAbasi Paul Isong University of Calabar http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6943-6174
Uwem Okon Akpan University of Calabar
Bebe Emini Eleng University of Calabar
Euphoria Chimuanya Akwiwu University of Calabar
Stephen Godwin Agbara University of Calabar
Edoise Momodu Isiwele University of Calabar
Alphonsus Ekpe Udoh University of Calabar

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52229/ajahs.v8i2.1883

Abstract

Background: Male infertility occurs globally and has a multifactorial aetiology. This study assessed prevalence of chlamydia and levels of seminal antisperm antibody (ASA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase and vitamin C of infertile men in Calabar, Southern Nigeria.

Basic procedures: This was a case-control study involving 35 oligospermic, 30 azoospermic men and 30 normospermic fertile men. Seminal chlamydial IgG antibody and ASA were done by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, TAC, Vitamin C and catalase by colorimetry and semen analysis by WHO method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 18.0 and data obtained was analyzed by the ANOVA, LSD Post hoc analysis, Pearson’s correlation and the level of significance was set at P < 0.05

Main findings: The oligospermic and azoospermic men had significantly lower (p = 0.0001) sperm count, sperm concentration, % sperm motility, catalase, TAC and significantly higher (p = 0.002) ASA than controls. Only the oligospermic men had significantly lower (p = 0.017) Vitamin C levels than the controls. They also had significantly higher catalase (p = 0.003) compared to the azoospermic men. None were positive for ASA and 4.4% of the infertile men were positive for chlamydia IgG antibody. Vitamin C correlated significantly and negatively with ASA (r= -0.388, p =0.009).

Principal conclusions: The prevalence of chlamydia and ASA of infertile men in this study was 4.4% and 0% respectively, seminal TAC, catalase and Vitamin C were lower and ASA higher in infertile men than fertile men.

Author Biographies

Iya Eze Bassey, University of Calabar

Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

Idongesit KokoAbasi Paul Isong, University of Calabar

Department of Clinical Chemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

Bebe Emini Eleng, University of Calabar

Department of Clinical Chemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

Euphoria Chimuanya Akwiwu, University of Calabar

Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

Stephen Godwin Agbara, University of Calabar

Department of Clinical Chemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

Edoise Momodu Isiwele, University of Calabar

Department of Urology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

Alphonsus Ekpe Udoh, University of Calabar

Department of Clinical Chemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.