{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T04:08:04Z","timestamp":1791346084808,"version":"4.3.1"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,27]],"date-time":"2021-04-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1619481600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Genes"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Fifteen percent of male infertility is associated with urogenital infections; several pathogens are able to alter the testicular and accessory glands\u2019 microenvironment, resulting in the impairment of biofunctional sperm parameters. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of urogenital infections on the quality of 53 human semen samples through standard analysis, microbiological evaluation, and molecular characterization of sperm DNA damage. The results showed a significant correlation between infected status and semen volume, sperm concentration, and motility. Moreover, a high risk of fragmented sperm DNA was demonstrated in the altered semen samples. Urogenital infections are often asymptomatic and thus an in-depth evaluation of the seminal sample can allow for both the diagnosis and therapy of infections while providing more indicators for male infertility management.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/genes12050654","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,27]],"date-time":"2021-04-27T21:18:20Z","timestamp":1619558300000},"page":"654","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":42,"title":["Microbiological Evaluation and Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Semen Samples of Patients Undergoing Fertility Investigation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Chiara","family":"Pagliuca","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Federica","family":"Cariati","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesca","family":"Bagnulo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fertility Unit, Maternal-Child Department, AOU Policlinico Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Scaglione","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy"},{"name":"CeSMA Centro Servizi Metrologici e Tecnologici Avanzati, University of Naples Federico II, Corso Nicolangelo Protopisani, 80146 Napoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Consolata","family":"Carotenuto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fabrizio","family":"Farina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Law, Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9273-3698","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Valeria","family":"D\u2019Argenio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Raffaele Open University, via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Roma, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesca","family":"Carraturo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paola","family":"D\u2019Aprile","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mariateresa","family":"Vitiello","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ida","family":"Strina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fertility Unit, Maternal-Child Department, AOU Policlinico Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carlo","family":"Alviggi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fertility Unit, Maternal-Child Department, AOU Policlinico Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy"},{"name":"Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology Institute (IEOS), National Research Council, 80131 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4861-5085","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roberta","family":"Colicchio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2828-782X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rossella","family":"Tomaiuolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universit\u00e0 Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paola","family":"Salvatore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy"},{"name":"CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy"},{"name":"Task Force on Microbiome Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"296","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.190055","article-title":"Male Oxidative Stress Infertility (MOSI): Proposed Terminology and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Idiopathic Male Infertility","volume":"37","author":"Agarwal","year":"2019","journal-title":"World J. Men\u2019s Health"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1016\/j.beem.2010.08.006","article-title":"Male infertility: Pathogenesis and clinical diagnosis","volume":"25","author":"Krausz","year":"2011","journal-title":"Best Pract. Res. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1186\/s12967-019-2019-8","article-title":"The evolving role of genetic tests in reproductive medicine","volume":"17","author":"Cariati","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Transl. Med."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1186\/s12958-018-0447-6","article-title":"Bisphenol a: An emerging threat to male fertility","volume":"17","author":"Cariati","year":"2019","journal-title":"Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tomaiuolo, R., Veneruso, I., Cariati, F., and D\u2019Argenio, V. (2020). Microbiota and Human reproduction: The case of male infertility. High Throughput, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/ht9020010"},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2010). WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, WHO Press. [5th ed.]. Available online: https:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/handle\/10665\/44261."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.2164\/jandrol.111.014654","article-title":"Male accessory gland infection frequency in infertile patients with chronic microbial prostatitis and irritable bowel syndrome: Transrectal ultrasound examination helps to understand the links","volume":"33","author":"Vicari","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Androl."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2008.03.009","article-title":"Genital tract infections and infertility","volume":"140","author":"Pellati","year":"2008","journal-title":"Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.4103\/iju.IJU_407_16","article-title":"Semen culture and the assessment of genitourinary tract infections","volume":"33","author":"Solomon","year":"2017","journal-title":"Indian J. Urol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nieschlag, E., and Behre, H. (1997). Andrology: Male Reproductive Health and Dysfunction, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-662-03455-2"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1447-0756.2004.00217.x","article-title":"Clinical patterns and major causes of infertility in Mongolia","volume":"30","author":"Bayasgalan","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Res."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sellami, H., Znazen, A., Sellami, A., Mnif, H., Louati, N., Zarrouk, S.B., Keskes, L., Rebai, T., Gdoura, R., and Hammami, A. (2014). Molecular detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and other sexually transmitted bacteria in semen of male partners of infertile couples in Tunisia: The effect on semen parameters and spermatozoa apoptosis markers. PLoS ONE, 9.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0098903"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"466","DOI":"10.1177\/0956462417735245","article-title":"The impact of Chlamydia trachomatis infection on sperm parameters and male fertility: A comprehensive study","volume":"29","author":"Moazenchi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. STD AIDS"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3446","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/dei231","article-title":"Sperm DNA fragmentation: Threshold value in male fertility","volume":"20","author":"Sergerie","year":"2005","journal-title":"Hum. Reprod."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rbmo.2014.10.018","article-title":"The effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on live birth rate after IVF or ICSI: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"30","author":"Osman","year":"2015","journal-title":"Reprod. Biomed. Online"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.4103\/1008-682X.182822","article-title":"A systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of sperm DNA damage on in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome","volume":"19","author":"Simon","year":"2017","journal-title":"Asian J. Androl."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1229","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2007.10.066","article-title":"Data analysis of two in vivo fertility studies using Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay-derived DNA fragmentation index vs. pregnancy outcome","volume":"90","author":"Evenson","year":"2008","journal-title":"Fertil. Steril."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"567","article-title":"Identification of Inquilinus limosus in cystic fibrosis: A first report in Italy","volume":"37","author":"Cicatiello","year":"2014","journal-title":"N. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1099\/jmm.0.062968-0","article-title":"Microbiological investigation in male infertility: A practical overview","volume":"63","author":"Condorelli","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Med. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0272.2007.00825.x","article-title":"Sexually transmitted infections: Impact on male fertility","volume":"40","author":"Ochsendorf","year":"2008","journal-title":"Andrologia"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e12992","DOI":"10.1111\/aji.12992","article-title":"Identification of seminal markers of male accessory gland inflammation: From molecules to proteome","volume":"80","author":"Grande","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am. J. Reprod. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1338","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/15.6.1338","article-title":"Analysis of DNA fragmentation, plasma membrane translocation of phosphatidyl- serine and oxidative stress in human spermatozoa","volume":"15","author":"Barroso","year":"2000","journal-title":"Hum. Reprod."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1093\/molehr\/gap059","article-title":"On the possible origins of DNA damage in human spermatozoa","volume":"16","author":"Aitken","year":"2010","journal-title":"Mol. Hum. Reprod."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1027","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2009.10.046","article-title":"Sperm DNA fragmentation: Mechanisms of origin, impact on reproductive outcome, and analysis","volume":"93","author":"Sakkas","year":"2010","journal-title":"Fertil. Steril."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"739","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0272.2011.01260.x","article-title":"Male accessory gland infections: Anatomical extension of inflammation and severity of symptoms evaluated by an original questionnaire","volume":"44","year":"2012","journal-title":"Andrologia"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.1007\/BF03346729","article-title":"Hypertrophic-congestive and fibro-sclerotic ultrasound variants of male accessory gland infection have different sperm output","volume":"34","author":"Vicari","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Endocrinol. Investig."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"638","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rbmo.2009.09.014","article-title":"Oxidative stress and medical antioxidant treatment in male infertility","volume":"19","author":"Lanzafame","year":"2009","journal-title":"Reprod. Biomed. Online"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1912","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/16.9.1912","article-title":"Characterization of subsets of human spermatozoa at different stages of maturation: Implications in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility","volume":"16","author":"Ollero","year":"2001","journal-title":"Hum. Reprod."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"717","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1939-4640.2002.tb02315.x","article-title":"Effect of leukocytospermia on sperm DNA integrity: A negative effect in abnormal semen samples","volume":"23","author":"Erenpreiss","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Androl."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.5603\/fhc.a2015.0019","article-title":"Mechanisms of the harmful effects of bacterial semen infection on ejaculated human spermatozoa: Potential inflammatory markers in semen","volume":"53","author":"Fraczek","year":"2015","journal-title":"Folia Histochem. Cytobiol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2799","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/der234","article-title":"Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4 on human sperm recognize bacterial endotoxins and mediate apoptosis","volume":"26","author":"Fujita","year":"2011","journal-title":"Hum. Reprod."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0272.2008.00837.x","article-title":"Chronic orchitis: A neglected cause of male infertility?","volume":"40","author":"Schuppe","year":"2008","journal-title":"Andrologia"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1007\/s10875-007-9071-5","article-title":"Effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha on human sperm motility and apoptosis","volume":"27","author":"Perdichizzi","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Clin. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103183","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jri.2020.103183","article-title":"Bacterial infection of the male reproductive system causing infertility","volume":"142","author":"Farsimadan","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Reprod. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1010","DOI":"10.1016\/j.urology.2007.12.082","article-title":"Prevalence of asymptomatic inflammatory (National Institutes of Health Category IV) prostatitis in young men according to semen analysis","volume":"71","author":"Korrovits","year":"2008","journal-title":"Urology"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jri.2013.05.001","article-title":"Markers of semen inflammation: Supplementary semen analysis?","volume":"100","author":"Condorelli","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Reprod. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1939-4640.2000.tb03273.x","article-title":"DNA integrity in human spermatozoa: Relationships with semen quality","volume":"21","author":"Irvine","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Androl."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"528","DOI":"10.1016\/S0015-0282(97)00536-0","article-title":"Sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation is increased in poor-quality semen samples and correlates with failed fertilization in intra- cytoplasmic sperm injection","volume":"69","author":"Lopes","year":"1998","journal-title":"Fertil. Steril."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"903","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1939-4640.2000.tb03421.x","article-title":"Functional and ultrastructural features of DNA- fragmented human sperm","volume":"21","author":"Muratori","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Androl."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"850","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2005.03.080","article-title":"Sperm DNA damage assessment: A test whose time has come","volume":"84","author":"Agarwal","year":"2005","journal-title":"Fertil. Steril."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1080\/00325481.2020.1830589","article-title":"Recent advances in clinical diagnosis and treatment of male factor infertility","volume":"132","author":"Miller","year":"2020","journal-title":"Postgrad. Med."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cissen, M., Wely, M.V., Scholten, I., Mansell, S., Bruin, J.P., Mol, B.W., Braat, D., Repping, S., and Hamer, G. (2016). Measuring Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Clinical Outcomes of Medically Assisted Reproduction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE, 11.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0165125"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"724","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rbmo.2011.08.010","article-title":"Relationships between human sperm protamines, DNA damage and assisted reproduction outcomes","volume":"23","author":"Simon","year":"2011","journal-title":"Reprod. Biomed. Online"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"367","DOI":"10.1007\/s10815-006-9066-9","article-title":"Correlation of sperm DNA damage with IVF and ICSI outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"23","author":"Li","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Assist. Reprod. Genet."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S495","DOI":"10.21037\/tau.2017.07.20","article-title":"Evaluation of sperm chromatin structure and DNA strand breaks is an important part of clinical male fertility assessment","volume":"6","author":"Evenson","year":"2017","journal-title":"Transl. Androl. Urol."},{"key":"ref_46","first-page":"1","article-title":"The complex microbiome from native semen to embryo culture environment in human in vitro fertilization procedure","volume":"18","author":"Baranova","year":"2020","journal-title":"Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1515\/cclm-2017-0147","article-title":"The SEeMORE strategy: Single-tube electrophoresis analysis-based genotyping to detect monogenic diseases rapidly and effectively from conception until birth","volume":"56","author":"Cariati","year":"2017","journal-title":"Clin. Chem. Lab. Med."},{"key":"ref_48","first-page":"314","article-title":"Indicazioni e limiti della diagnosi genetica preimpianto","volume":"4","author":"Nunziato","year":"2017","journal-title":"Bioch. Clinic."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1007\/s00345-011-0726-8","article-title":"Influence of urogenital infections and inflammation on semen quality and male fertility","volume":"30","author":"Rusz","year":"2011","journal-title":"World J. Urol."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-21664-1_6","article-title":"Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Consequences for Reproduction","volume":"1166","author":"Simon","year":"2019","journal-title":"Adv. Exp. Med. Biol."}],"container-title":["Genes"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4425\/12\/5\/654\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T05:53:29Z","timestamp":1760162009000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4425\/12\/5\/654"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,27]]},"references-count":50,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5]]}},"alternative-id":["genes12050654"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/genes12050654","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-4425"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-4425","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,27]]}}}