The impact of bacterial prostatitis and IL-17 in male infertility

A case-control study aimed to assess the role of IL-17 serum level and bacterial prostatitis in development of male infertility. 120 patients from January to June 2021 included 60 prostatitis infertile patients, 30 prostatitis patients and 30 infertile patients as well as 30 healthy fertile male subjects. Blood and semen sample were collected from all subjects. 3 ml of venous blood was put in gel tube to separate serum estimate the IL-17 level by ELISA. A loop full of semen was taken to isolate bacterial causes and the remaining semen was analyzed to detect semen liquefaction, volume, appearance and basic sperm parameters (density, motility, viability and morphology). The results showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in serum concentration of IL-17 in prostatitis infertile patients than prostatitis compared to infertile patients. According to a grade of the infertile male, the concentration of IL-17 increased with severity of disease and this is considered as a biomarker for progression. The results revealed that E.coli followed by S.aureus is the most common bacterial cause of prostatitis infection. The current study concluded that the infection with prostatitis disease affects the body's immune response represented by increased level of IL- 17 and correlated with infertility.