Abstract

Fifty seminal samples were studied to determine the microbial influence in male infertility as well as the qualitative and quantitative features of the semen. Among the three bacterial isolates obtained from the sample, Staphylococcus aureus 7(77.8%) was found to be the most predominant isolate, other isolates were Escherichia coli 1(11.1%) and Citrobacterspp. In relation to semen concentration S. aureus was observed to be most frequently distributed among the characterized semen. The recovery frequency of organisms associated with the semen types revealed that 2(40%) of organisms were recovered of azoospermia, 6(20.68%) oligozoospermia and 1(6.25%) normozoospermia. The motility of the semen was greatly influenced by the presence of the isolated bacterial. The motility of semen was recorded to be 20, 10 and 45% for S. aureus, E. coli and Citrobacter sp., respectively, as against the normal semen motility of 50% or more. The presence and profound influence of microorganisms in semen is evidence that microorganisms played significant role in male -infertility.

Key words: Semen, bacterial isolates, men, infertility and Benin teaching hospital (UBTH), Benin City.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: UBTH, University of Benin teaching hospital; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome; IVF, in-vitrofertilization; ARTs, assisted reproductive techniques.