Investigation of the effect of COVID-19 on sperm count, motility, and morphology.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a single-stranded RNA virus that causes many diseases such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases. Although it has been shown that the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, which has a high affinity for the SARS-CoV-2 is mostly expressed in the lungs, it is also expressed especially in the cells of the testicular tissue. Although there are studies showing the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on spermatogenesis, the effects of COVID-19 on sperm count, motility, and morphology are still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate changes in sperm quality in men who had recovered and never had COVID-19, therefore semen samples were analyzed from all individuals in the patient and control groups aged 20-50 years who agreed to participate in the study and voluntary in SBU Ministry of Health Adana City Training and Research Hospital. (Toros University Ethics Committee Decision Number: 1433, Date: April 15, 2021) (Adana Provincial Health Directorate Ethics Commission Decision dated May 27, 2021/5). Two groups were selected (100 men had and recovered from COVID-19, and 100 men never had COVID-19) spermiograms from both groups were analyzed in accordance with the World Health Organization standards. The sperm concentration of the COVID-19 negative group was significantly higher than those in the COVID-19 positive group. No statistically significant difference was detected between the groups for sperm motility and morphology. It was observed that men with COVID-19 had decreased sperm concentrations suggesting that COVID-19 may have a negative effect on male fertility. However, in the long term, more comprehensive studies with a large sample size are needed to understand better the changes in sperm concentration.

Antibody response three months after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic became the greatest public health challenge globally. In our study, it was aimed to determine the antibody levels in the third month after the COVID-19 infection and the symptoms that continued until the third month from the onset of the infection. One hundred people who applied to Tarsus State Hospital with the suspicion of COVID-19 and were positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were included. We collected serum samples from individuals, who were 3 months postinfection, and tested them in anti-SARS-CoV-2 Quanti-Vac ELISA IgG kit coated with recombinant S1 antigen for testing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Antibody levels were found to be higher in those aged ≥55 years, nonsmokers, those with comorbidities, and those who were hospitalized. The four most common symptoms that individuals initially encounter; are weakness, muscle and joint pain, loss of taste and smell, and cough. In 3 months after COVID-19 infection, the most common four symptoms are; muscle and joint pain, insomnia, fatigue, and other problems were determined. In conclusion; more research is needed to determine threshold levels of serum antibodies that could prevent reinfection of SARS-CoV-2.