The impact of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 on sperm characteristics
- Authors: Lutsky D.L.1,2, Mahmudov R.M.3, Lutskaya A.M.4, Vybornov S.V.1,5, Nikolaev A.A.1, Kalashnikov E.S.6, Nikulina D.M.1, Lozovskii V.V.7, Lozovskiy V.V.8, Shishkina L.M.1
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Affiliations:
- Astrakhan State Medical University
- Laboratory «DIAMED-express» REPRODIAMED
- Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry named after A.I. Evdokimov
- Astrakhan State Medical University, Laboratory «DIAMED-express» REPRODIAMED
- Limansky District Hospital
- Alexander-Mariinsky Regional Clinical Hospital
- Centre of Family Health and Reproduction
- City Clinical Hospital № 3 named after S.M. Kirov
- Issue: Vol 13, No 3 (2022)
- Pages: 17-24
- Section: Original Study Articles
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/clinpractice/article/view/109001
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/clinpract109001
- ID: 109001
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Abstract
Background: Although the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is characterized by mostly mild and asymptomatic cases (more than 80%), it appears important to assess the potential risks for the male reproductive system, in particular, for the parameters of the sperm. Aim: To study the effect of a mild and asymptomatic course of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the male sperm's parameters. Methods: The study included 397 patients who applied for a spermogram. All the patients underwent a spermogram study according to the WHO protocol, with the additionally measured degree of sperm DNA fragmentation, acrosine activity, fructose level, zinc level, citric acid level, neutral-glucosidase activity. A test for sperm binding to hyaluronic acid (HBA test) was performed, and the serum antibodies (IgM and IgG) against SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed. The study was conducted twice with an interval of 3–5 months. Results: At the first examination, normozoospermia was found in 33.5% (n=133) of patients, pathospermia — in 66.5% (n=264). All the patients had no antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). When the analysis was repeated after 3–5 months, antibodies (IgG) against SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 144 patients: in 14.6% (n=21) the coronavirus infection was mild, and in 85.4% (n=123) it was asymptomatic. Those patients who received some type of a treatment (andrologic, anticovid, and/or other) were excluded from the further study. The subsequent analysis of the data from the untreated patients (131 patients without antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and 93 patients with antibodies (IgG) against SARS-CoV-2) was performed using the Student's paired test. For all the parameters of the standard spermogram according to the WHO protocol, the found changes after the mild and asymptomatic form of COVID-19 were not statistically significant. Also, the changes in the degree of fragmentation of sperm DNA, the enzymatic activity of acrosine, and other estimated parameters of the sperm (levels of fructose, citric acid, zinc, and the activity of neutral-glucosidase) were not statistically significant. The results of the test for the spermatozoa's interaction with hyaluronic acid (HBA test) worsened and had statistically significant differences after the coronavirus infection in both the mild form (p=0.006) and asymptomatic form (p=0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in the sperm parameters (including those from the HBA test) in the patients who had not had the new coronavirus infection. Conclusions: No statistically significant data were obtained on the effect of mild and asymptomatic forms of the course of the new coronavirus infection on the parameters of the standard spermogram, on the degree of fragmentation of spermatozoa's DNA and the enzymatic activity of acrosin. Mild and asymptomatic forms of the new coronavirus infection course can negatively affect the interaction of spermatozoa with hyaluronic acid (HBA test), that indicates the impairment of the spermatozoa binding to the zona pellucida. One should pay attention to the HBA test when examining the sperm of patients who have suffered the new coronavirus infection.
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##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
Dmitry L. Lutsky
Astrakhan State Medical University; Laboratory «DIAMED-express» REPRODIAMED
Email: dmitry.lutsky@bk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1412-3322
SPIN-code: 8826-1441
MD, PhD, Assitant Professor
Russian Federation, 17-45 Tatishcheva str. 414056, Astrakhan; AstrakhanRamil M. Mahmudov
Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry named after A.I. Evdokimov
Email: ramilmahmudov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8565-4788
Lecturer
Russian Federation, MoscowAdela M. Lutskaya
Astrakhan State Medical University, Laboratory «DIAMED-express» REPRODIAMED
Email: amm80@bk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7094-6331
MD, PhD, Assistant
Russian Federation, 17-45 Tatishcheva str. 414056, Astrakhan; AstrakhanSergey V. Vybornov
Astrakhan State Medical University; Limansky District Hospital
Email: andro-vybor@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8584-5533
SPIN-code: 6572-1798
MD, PhD, Assitant
Russian Federation, 17-45 Tatishcheva str. 414056, Astrakhan; LimanAlexander A. Nikolaev
Astrakhan State Medical University
Email: chimnik@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6607-430X
SPIN-code: 8417-3876
MD, PhD
Russian Federation, 17-45 Tatishcheva str. 414056, AstrakhanEvgeniy S. Kalashnikov
Alexander-Mariinsky Regional Clinical Hospital
Email: lazer@astranet.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4552-6439
MD
Russian Federation, 17-45 Tatishcheva str. 414056, AstrakhanDina M. Nikulina
Astrakhan State Medical University
Email: nikulinadina@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4294-3480
SPIN-code: 6230-1320
MD, PhD, Professor
Russian Federation, 17-45 Tatishcheva str. 414056, AstrakhanVladimir V. Lozovskii
Centre of Family Health and Reproduction
Email: andro-loz@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8168-7016
MD
Russian Federation, 17-45 Tatishcheva str. 414056, AstrakhanVladimir Vl. Lozovskiy
City Clinical Hospital № 3 named after S.M. Kirov
Email: urolog-androlog@rambler.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7462-6028
MD
Russian Federation, 17-45 Tatishcheva str. 414056, AstrakhanLuiza M. Shishkina
Astrakhan State Medical University
Author for correspondence.
Email: shishkina_luiza@bk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1149-6940
Student
Russian Federation, 17-45 Tatishcheva str. 414056, AstrakhanReferences
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