Decreased semen quality in a male infected with malaria

A 33‐year‐old male of proven fertility suffered six attacks of malaria while resident in an African country. For this he received anti‐malarial drugs. Semen analysis performed after the fourth attack, and repeated during the following 2 years after his return to Israel, revealed severe oligozoospermia. necrozoospermia and occasionally even azoospermia. Immunological examination of the patient revealed an inverse ratio of T‐cell subsets and mast cell degranulation in response to palludrin. Twenty‐five months after the last attack of malaria a significant improvement was found in semen quality and there was an increase in the ratio of T‐helper to T‐suppressor cytotoxic cells. These observations indicate that although malaria and its treatment may affect spermatogenesis, recovery may be expected eventually.