Molecular Typing of Toxoplasma Gondii Isolated from Infertile Men and Its Effect on the Reproduction

Abstract

Seminal fluid and blood samples were collated from sixty 20-60 years aged and attended Teba Center for Children and ICSI/ in Babylon Province during the period from 1st June 2016 to 1st February 2017. The same number of samples were also taken from 60 age matched apparently healthy individuals to act as a control group. Anti IgG levels were measured in the sera of both groups to detect the presence of Toxoplasma infection, while seminal fluid samples were examined to detect infertility. Toxoplasma gondii genotype was applied by using nested PCR to detect SAG2 gene. Gene sequencing technique infection was performed for detection occurrence of mutation in the mitochondria of the sperm. Results confirmed that the age group (20-40years) was significantly more prone P<0.05 to infective with T. gondii where the percentage of seropositivty was 65% (39 patients) while it was 35% (21 individuals) in the apparently healthy control group. Concerning the residence, there was a highly significant difference (P < 0.006) where the percentage of seropositivty was 68% in idiveduals living in rural areas while it was 32% among those living in the urban areas. Genotyping showed that presence in two strains of Toxoplasma which has been found in males infected with Toxoplasmosis. Type I was found in 10 persons (17%) while type II was found in 50 persons (83%) and the difference between two strains was significant (P<0.05). Oligospermia has recorded the highest number of positive cases among patients (92%; 55 cases), in comparison with negative cases (8%; 5 cases), Asthenospermia showed significant P<0.05 decrease (35%; 21 cases) in comparison with negative (65%; 39 cases). Mutation occurs with Oligospermia of both of types I and II of T. gondii strains in 2 cases only, which was found on DN2 gene with a highly significant P<0.01 difference of positive cases (3%; 2 cases), and negative cases (97%; 58 cases). The mutation in single-nucleotide polymorphisms SNP G4580A site, showed that G was converted to A that was recognized at nt 4580 in the ND2 region. This evolution was experiential in oligozoospermic samples (code 010830). This SNP is a synonymous substitution that occurred in the third position of methionine codon, changing the codon from ATG to ATA.