Aim: to assess the role of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the induction of cytogenetic damage of spermatozoa and karyopathological abnormalities of urothelial cells depending on the polymorphism of the gene of enzyme, DNA ligase IV.
Material and methods. A total of 129 male patients with HGA and 84 otherwise healthy donors were examined. The samples of both semen and urothelial cells were obtained from each individuals for microscopic analysis. The diagnosis was confirmed by cytological (microscopic) method, enzyme immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An analysis of the frequencies of damaged spermatozoa and urothelial cells in all participants was carried out. In addition, a molecular cytogenetic study of spermatozoa by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was carried out using an AneuVysion multicolour for chromosomes 18 and 21 («Abbott», USA) to determine the frequency of aneuploidy in spermatozoa. The level of DNA fragmentation was studied by SCD (Sperm Chromatin Dispertion Test) using a commercial Halosperm kit («Halotech DNA», Spain).
Results. The cytological analysis revealed the significant increase in the proportion of spermatozoa with cytogenetic abnormalities and urothelial cells with karyopathological damage in the HGA patients. The most significant damage to nuclear structures of cells was determined in the patients with Ile/Ile genotype. The significant effects of HGA in DNA damage and cytogenetic abnormalities in patients were verified by the increased frequency of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation, monosomy and disomy in 21 and 18 chromosomes, as well as the appearance of urothelial cells with karyopathological abnormalities. In addition, the increased frequencies of pathospermia with pathological abnormalities of head, neck and tail of spermatozoa in HGA patients were found.
Conclusion. According to our results, the cytological analysis in the patients with HGA demonstrated the significant increase in the frequencies of spermatozoa with head, neck and tail defects and DNA fragmentation, monosomy and trisomy of the 18th and 21st chromosomes, as well as the increase in the frequencies of urothelial cells with karyopathological abnormalities. The genetic polymorphism of the effects of HGA was revealed, and the most significant cytogenetical damage was found in the patients carrying the Ile/Ile genotype of the LIG4 Thr9Ile gene.

Keywords: urogenital tract, DNA ligase IV gene, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, karyopathology, DNA fragmentation, pathospermia, aneuploidy