Increased prevalence of leukocytes and elevated cytokine levels in semen from Schistosoma haematobium-infected individuals

J Infect Dis. 2005 May 15;191(10):1639-47. doi: 10.1086/429334. Epub 2005 Apr 11.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the seminal inflammatory response to egg infestation of the urogenital organs in 240 semen-donating men aged 15-49 years living in a Schistosoma haematobium-endemic area of Madagascar. In 29 subjects (12%) with excretion of > or =5 ova/ejaculate, leukocytospermia (>10(6) leukocytes/mL) and the presence of seminal lymphocytes and eosinophil leukocytes were each significantly more prevalent than in 74 subjects (31%) who were S. haematobium negative (P<.01). In addition, seminal levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor- alpha were significantly higher among seminal egg-excreting subjects than among infection-negative subjects (P<.001). Sexually transmitted infection (STI) with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and/or Trichomonas vaginalis did not act as a confounding factor for the observed associations. At follow-up, 6 months after systematic antischistosomiasis and STI syndrome treatment at baseline, the prevalence of seminal leukocytes decreased significantly among the previously seminal egg-positive subjects. The same tendency was observed for the posttreatment levels of cytokines. Numerous studies have already shown an association between STI-associated genital inflammation and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) propagation. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that male urogenital schistosomiasis may constitute a risk factor for HIV transmission, as a result of egg-induced inflammation in the semen-producing pelvic organs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Cytokines / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / immunology*
  • Semen / immunology*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines