Correlation between DNA sperm fragmentation, ejaculate oxidative stress and anti-sperm antibodies in persons severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in December, 2019 in the Wuhan city, China and subsequently declared pan-demic causing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor plays a key role in the COVID-19 pathogenesis. A breakthrough revelation in male fertility research is that testes show almost the highest ACE2 mRNA and protein expressions among vari-ous body tissues, mainly in seminiferous duct cells, sperma-togonia, Leydig and Sertoli cells. In SARS-CoV infections, it has been reported that the excessive pro-duction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This further stimulate release of cytokines causing exaggeration of the inflammatory responses. The goal of the work. Investigating whether a new coronavirus-related infection (called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a correlation between DNA sperm fragmentation, ejaculate oxidative stress and anti-sperm antibodies in persons severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Patients and selection.This was a retrospective clinical observation study using data from 98 patients with COVID-19 from April 15 - September 28, 2020. All patiens in this study were volunteers, residents of the from the Dukagjini region in Republic of Kosovo. This study was performed in the Biochemistry and Andrology Laboratory of Biolab-Zafi Polyclinic in Klina and Medical Laboratory ,, Biolab-Zafi-F in the city of Peja, Kosovo. Results. The mean positive titer of Anti SARS - COV-2 was 45.9 ± 12.4. The lowest titer of Anti SARS - COV-2 was found in patients with low sperm DNA fragmentation, low OxiSperma test and a low percentage of positive MAR test for anti-sperm antibodies. Most patients with positive anti-SARS - COV-2 IgG antibodies had a DFI higher than 10% (13.7 ± 3.3%) but the values were within normal limits. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection may possibly affect sperm DNA and cause SDF through induction of OS following various direct oxidant-sensitive pathways, altering reproductive endocrinological milieu, or through the course of COVID-19 treatment using certain broad-spectrum anti-viral drugs