Biochemical and morphofunctional study of sperm of men infected with antibiotic-resistant strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum

Background: The role of UU in the pathogenesis of male infertility is currently not fully understood. Despite the widespread occurrence of antibiotic-resistant UU strains, there are virtually no data on their effect on the morphofunctional characteristics of the sperm and the biochemical parameters of the ejaculate. Aims: Comprehensive evaluation of the sperm fertility in men infected with antibiotic-resistant UU strains. Methods: The semen of men of active reproductive age (n=4752, age from 18 to 46 years, with the average age of 27.8±4.4 years) was studied. In the semen samples, UU was detected by the microbiological method (seeding on selective culture media with the subsequent identification and determination of the antibiotic sensitivity of the obtained isolates). The semen from men with mixed infections was excluded from the study. As a control, we used samples of ejaculates from healthy fertile men (n=67, age from 19 to 43 years, with the average age of 25.8±5.1 years). In the study of the ejaculate, the methods recommended by the WHO expert group were used. In addition to the standard spermogram, MAR tests (IgA, IgG and IgM) were performed, the degree of fragmentation of the sperm DNA was evaluated, the interaction of the sperm with hyaluronic acid was evaluated, as well, the activity of acrosine and neutral alpha-glucosidase was measured, the levels of zinc, citric acid, fructose and the level of glycodelin were determined. The study had been carried out between 2018 and 2021. Results: The most common resistance was to erythromycin (88.2%), less often — to azithromycin (47.0%), tetracycline (41.7%). The resistance to doxycycline (7.7%), josamycin (5.9%), and medicamycin (5.8%) was relatively rare. In men infected with antibiotic-resistant UU strains, the most frequently observed anomalies of a standard spermogram were those of the motor characteristics of spermatozoa — asthenozoo-spermia — and those of the spermatozoa's morphology — teratozoospermia. In the presence of polyresistant UU strains, a high degree of the sperm DNA fragmentation was more common (10.03% of cases) in respect to the cases of UU strains not resistant to antibiotics (5.92% of cases) or resistant to only one antibiotic (6.16% of cases). Abnormalities of the spermatozoa's interaction with hyaluronic acid were observed more often (more than 12% of cases) for antibiotic-resistant UU strains than for non-antibiotic-resistant UU strains (less than 4% of cases). In men infected with antibiotic-resistant UU strains, a decrease in the enzymatic activity of acrosin was often observed (29.71% of cases), most frequently among the cases with polyresistant strains (40.46% of cases). Conclusions: Antibiotic-resistant UU strains have a negative effect on the sperm fertility, of which the most pronounced negative effects are caused by polyresistant strains. We recommend measuring the acrosin activity when performing a spermogram for patients infected with UU. In the presence of polyresistant UU strains, it is advisable to assess the degree of the sperm DNA fragmentation. We recommend carrying out an antibioticogram before prescribing a treatment for ureaplasmosis.