Protozoan infections in the male genital tract.

PURPOSE: We reviewed the literature on protozoan infections in the male genital tract, with special reference to histopathological findings and their repercussions on different andrological functions.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A literature search of the MEDLINE data base from 1966 to May 1995 was done and related articles were identified. The considered terms were parasitology and the male genital organs. Additional searches on infertility, semen and sexually transmitted diseases were performed.

RESULTS

Protozoan infections of the male genital tract are rare and only a few species of parasites are involved. Trichomonas vaginalis, Trypanosoma species, Leishmania donovani, Entamoeba histolytica, Acanthamoeba species, Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum have been described in the male genital tract as producing testicular damage or secondary hypogonadism via hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis alterations.

CONCLUSIONS

Topics of interest were the role of sexual transmission by some parasites, principally T. vaginalis, relationship with subfertility or infertility in the male subject, clinical significance in differential diagnosis with other inflammatory processes, and for some parasites the relationship with opportunistic behavior and immunodeficiency syndromes, including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.