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Review

How to Detect Chlamydia trachomatis in Males?

From the Department of Infection and Immunity, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Correspondence to: Dr Adrian Eley, Department of Infection and Immunity, University of Sheffield Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, S10 2RX, United Kingdom (e-mail: a.r.eley{at}sheffield.ac.uk).

Abstract

Much is known about the role of Chlamydia trachomatis in female infertility, although the same cannot be said about the organism's role in male infertility. Recently a number of researchers have provided a possible explanation of the pathogenesis of C trachomatis in male infertility and have suggested further studies. Unfortunately, current screening recommendations for C trachomatis in an infertile couple are vague and unhelpful, and many do not even mention this type of screening in the male. To enable any progress to be made in this field, it is essential that investigators know how best to detect C trachomatis, especially in the male. It is important, therefore, to know which specimen is best for C trachomatis detection, with respective strengths and weaknesses of each specimen. Similarly, it is equally important to have knowledge of which test is appropriate for the type of specimen being examined. First void urine is currently the specimen of choice for the routine detection of C trachomatis in males. Moreover, the best detection protocols in the developed world are based on molecular diagnosis of first void urine. These methods provide the best combination of sensitivity and specificity that is currently available on a clinical sample that can be self-taken. Interestingly, because semen is routinely collected for analysis in men of infertile couples, it has been suggested that protocols be developed for the optimal detection of C trachomatis in this specimen. Semen might provide additional information on infection of the upper genital tract, which may not be detected in first void urine. Finally, the importance of comparing tests for C trachomatis detection in updating our knowledge has been highlighted by the inability of some molecular methods to detect the new variant strain of C trachomatis.

     Key words: First void urine, semen, molecular diagnostics