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Acid-fast bacilli in semen; correlation with bacterial index.
A Abraham1, S Kaur, V K Sharma
1Department of Dermatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Summary
Multibacillary leprosy patients showed testicular involvement, with 30% experiencing oligospermia. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) were found in semen, correlating significantly with bacterial load in leprosy patients.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Andrology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, can affect various organs.
- Testicular involvement in multibacillary leprosy is not fully understood.
- Oligospermia and presence of Mycobacterium leprae in semen are potential indicators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess testicular involvement in multibacillary leprosy patients.
- To determine the prevalence of oligospermia and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in semen.
- To investigate the correlation between bacterial index (BI) and AFB detection in semen.
Main Methods:
- Historical review and clinical assessment of 30 multibacillary leprosy patients (12 LL, 18 BL).
- Semen analysis for sperm count (oligospermia) and microscopic examination for AFB.
- Correlation analysis between bacterial index (BI) and AFB detection.
Main Results:
- Nine out of 30 (30%) patients presented with oligospermia.
- Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) were detected in the semen of 3 (10%) patients (2 LL, 1 BL).
- A significant positive correlation was found between the bacterial index (BI) and the presence of AFB in semen (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Testicular involvement, including oligospermia and AFB in semen, is present in multibacillary leprosy.
- Higher bacterial loads in leprosy correlate with increased detection of AFB in semen.
- These findings highlight potential reproductive health implications in leprosy patients.