Gene Expression of fimH and recX among Klebsiella pneumoniae Associated with Genitourinary Tract Infection and Their Impact on Male Infertility

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

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Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Qadisiyah University, Iraq

10.21608/ejmm.2025.381087.1609

Abstract

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a significant pathogen responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Bacterial infections of the male genitourinary tract account for 15% of male infertility. Objective: This research examined certain strains of K. pneumoniae that express the recX and fimH genes, assessing their impact on sperm and its relationship to male infertility. Methodology: Total 200 samples were collected (100 semen and 100 urine) from the infertile men with genitourinary tract infection, and 200 samples from fertile men suffering from UTI from Al-Najaf, Al-Diwaniya and Karbala governorates. All samples’ cultures were conducted for all patients and the control groups. PCR assay method was employed to detect fimH and recX genes. Real-Time PCR used to evaluate the genes expression in K. pneumoniae. Results: Only 17 (8.5%) of the suspected isolates were identified as K. pneumoniae from patients and 17 (8.5%) from control. The isolates were divided as follows: 13 isolates from urine and 4 isolates from semen among patients, and only 17 isolates from urine in control group. The prevalence of genes among K. pneumoniae isolates was fimH (64.7%), while recX was (94%) in patients. Among control group it was (88%), (58.8%) for fimH and recX, respectively. Patients group exhibited a significant rise in the expression levels of all studied genes (recX =5.516254 and fimH=3.919551) as compared with genes expression of controls samples (recX=1.089123 and fimH=1.434213). Conclusions: Urinary tract infection may impact on sperm parameters and this led to male infertility.

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