Adverse impact of acute Toxoplasma gondii infection on human spermatozoa.

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect virtually any nucleated cell within human and other endoderm animal tissue, including male reproductive organs. Herein, we investigate the capacity of T. gondii tachyzoites to infect and proliferate within the testes and epididymis and examine the resulting impact on human spermatozoa structure and functionality. We confirmed that T. gondii tachyzoites colonise and proliferate within the testes and epididymis, altering the tissue structural homeostasis, and causing immune cell infiltration and cellular damage. In addition to demonstrating that T. gondii remains infective within the testes and epididymis, in vitro experiments demonstrated a direct interaction between T. gondii tachyzoites and human spermatozoa

SUBMITTER: Rojas-Baron L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12414867 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature