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Characterization of microbiota in male infertility cases uncovers differences in seminal hyperviscosity and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia possibly correlated with increased prevalence of infectious bacteria
Author(s) -
Monteiro Catarina,
Marques Patrícia I.,
Cavadas Bruno,
Damião Isabel,
Almeida Vasco,
Barros Nuno,
Barros Alberto,
Carvalho Filipa,
Gomes Sílvia,
Seixas Susana
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/aji.12838
Subject(s) - biology , male infertility , semen , bacteria , physiology , microbiology and biotechnology , infertility , pregnancy , genetics
Problem Sexually transmitted diseases and other infections of male genitourinary tract are thought to negatively impact reproductive health, affecting semen quality. Despite a possible link between bacteria and infertility, few studies attempted to characterize seminal microbiota in healthy and diseased subjects. Methods of the study A high‐throughput sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene was performed in a cohort of infertility‐related cases (N = 89) and controls (N = 29) using a pooled sample approach. Results A global characterization of microbiota was obtained at low cost, without compromising the identification of bacterial taxa. This strategy allowed us to detect changes in the microbiota of infertility‐related phenotypes, such as an increment of Proteobacteria in seminal hyperviscosity, and to separate this later group from oligoasthenoteratozoospermia based in bacterial (family/genus) abundances. Conclusion We provide data for a likely contribution of bacteria into seminal hyperviscosity and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, partially correlated with an increment of Neisseria , Klebsiella , and Pseudomonas pathogens and a reduction in Lactobacillus probiotic agent.