130 Chlamydia trachomatis attacks young male spermatozoon T. Cai, S. Mazzoli * , D. Bani ** , T. Sacchi Bani ** , R. Bartoletti Department of Urology, University of Florence, Italy; * STDs Centre, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy; ** Department of Anatomy, Histology & Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Italy Key words Chlamydia trachomatis • Spermatozoa • Fertility • Prostatitis Summary Chlamydia trachomatis infection, even if has a potential role in chronic prostatitis pathogenesis, has a controversial impact on male fertility. The role of Chlamydia trachomatis infections of the upper male genital tract as probable aetiological factors for male infertility has been fully argued, without any convincing demonstration of a clear correlation. In this case report, an electron transmission microscopic evaluation of spermatozoa obtained from a patients with chronic prostatitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis infection has been showed. In this case, we stress the role of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in young males, highlighting the role of Chlamydia trachomatis in spermatozoa damaging and fertility decreasing. Introduction Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is the most prevalent bacterial cause of sexually transmitted infections 1 . Moreover, World Health Or- ganization estimates that more than 92 million of C. trachomatis infec- tions occurred worldwide in the last years 1 . This high diffusion is prob- ably due also to the fact that approximately 75% of C. trachomatis infec- tions in women and up to 50% of those in men are asymptomatic and this is why, due to the low reported incidence rates of genital chlamydial infections in the population 2 . Recent reports have established that C. trachomatis causes symptomatic infection in the lower male genital tract and that should have a potential role in chronic prostatitis patho- genesis 3 . Furthermore, we recently showed a clear correlation between poor semen quality and C. trachomatis infections in young male patients affected by chronic prostatitis due to C. trachomatis infection 4 . Even if the pathophysiology of C. trachomatis infection damage on human fertil- ity is also unclear for the moment, few hypotheses have been, recently, purposed 5-6 . Some Authors state that C. trachomatis could directly damage male sperm 5 while others suggested a probable immuno-medi- ated damage. In fact, the presence of anti-chlamydial immunoglobulin (Ig) A in semen from males with a previous contact with C. trachomatis is associated with elevated levels of T lymphocytes, that have been also correlated with the presence of antisperm antibodies 6 . In our previous study, we have found a statistically significant differences between pa- tients affected by C. trachomatis infection and those with uropathogens Corresponding author: Tommaso Cai, Department of Urology, University of Florence, via dell’Antella 58, 50011 Florence, Italy – Tel. +39 0552496347 – Fax +39 0552496452 – E-mail: ktommy@libero.it Journal of Andrological Sciences 2009;16:130-132 CASE REPORT