Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ORCHITIS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Granulomatous epididymo-orchitis: sonographic features and clinical outcome in brucellosis, tuberculosis and idiopathic granulomatous epididymo-orchitis.

PURPOSE: We reviewed and analyzed sonographic findings in granulomatous epididymo-orchitis in an attempt to differentiate this rare inflammatory entity from other causes of enlarged scrotum, such as tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed sonographic features of 9 patients a mean of 41 years old with specific and nonspecific granulomatous epididymo-orchitis, including brucellosis in 7, tuberculosis in 1 and idiopathic granulomatous epididymo-orchitis in 1. Histological confirmation was obtained in 3 cases, and in the remaining 6 positive clinical manifestations and laboratory tests for brucellosis were accepted as the main criteria for the diagnosis of brucellar epididymo-orchitis. RESULTS: The most notable echographic finding was an enlarged and heterogeneous epididymis, predominantly in the body and tail. Testicular involvement consisted of a diffusely hypoechoic testis or focal intratesticular areas. Thickening of the scrotal wall and tunica albuginea, and moderate hydrocele were also noted occasionally. Followup scans revealed intratesticular abscesses in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: These echographic findings may suggest the diagnosis of granulomatous epididymo-orchitis in the appropriate clinical setting, and help to avoid unnecessary orchiectomy for benign disease.

Adult↗

Experimental allergic orchitis in mice. I. Genetic control of susceptibility and resistance to induction of autoimmune orchitis.

Inbred strains of mice were studied for their susceptibility to the induction of experimental allergic orchitis after sensitization with mouse testicular homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant accompanied by injections of extract from Bordetella pertussis. Susceptibility to autoimmune orchitis was found to be linked to the major histocompatibility complex in BALB/c and C57BL/10 mice and mapped to genes encoded within the H-2Dd region. In five of six groups of bidirectional (susceptible X resistant)F1 hybrids, H-2Dd-linked susceptibility was inherited as a dominant autosomal trait. However, in (BALB/cByJ X DBA/2J)F1 and (DBA/2J X BALB/cByJ)F1 hybrids, dominant autosomal resistance to the induction of autoimmune orchitis was observed. Backcross analysis between the resistant F1 hybrid and the susceptible BALB/cByJ parent suggests that a single independently segregating DBA/2J locus is capable of negating H-2Dd-linked susceptibility, and controls resistance to the induction of autoimmune orchitis.

Animals↗

Experimental allergic aspermatogenic orchitis. 1. Isolation of a spermatozoal protein (AP1) which induces allergic aspermatogenic orchitis.

A unique highly soluble aspermatogenic protein (AP1) was isolated from guinea pig testes and was shown by immunofluorescence to occupy the outer surface of the sperm acrosome. This protein is a potent inducer of allergic orchitis and aspermatogenesis; as little as 0.2 mug induced orchitis in 60 percent of guinea pig tested. The AP1 protein, relatively small and neutral, is stable under acid conditions, but at pH 8.6 shows a variety of forms due either to aggregation or polymorphism. The purified AP1 protein appeared homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 2.7 and in sodium dodecyl sulfate and by immunoelectrophoresis using rabbit antisera to either the purified protein or the testes extract. It also showed a single band on immunodiffusion over a wide concentration range. The purification procedure consisted of delipidation with chloroform/methanol (2/1); acid extraction at pH 3.0; precipitation with 85 percent saturated ammonium sulfate; trichloroacetic acid extraction and gel filtration on Bio-Gel A-1.5; gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-10; chromatography on CM52 cellulose; and preparative gel electrophoresis at pH 2.7. Approximately 20 mg of purified AP1 protein were obtained from 5000 g of wet guinea pig testes. The AP1 protein induced an autoimmune disease characterized by infiltration of mononuclear cells around and within the seminiferous tubules (orchitis), followed by extensive damage and destruction of the germinal cells (aspermatogenesis). The course of the disease induced by this protein (0.5 to 1 mug) was essentially identical with that seen with whole testicular tissue or other purified fractions.

Animals↗

Observations on autoimmune orchitis in sterile mice carrying a recessive lethal mutation at the T/t complex exhibiting spontaneous allergic orchitis.

Electron microscopic observations of testes of sterile, backcross T/tw18 mice which spontaneously develop allergic orchitis have demonstrated accumulations of lymphocytes and occasional plasma cells between seminiferous tubules in affected mice. Many lymphocytes appeared to be insinuated amongst cytoplasmic processes of the peritubular adventitial cells which, in most samples, provided a barrier to direct infiltration of the germinal epithelium by lymphocytes. Although lymphocytes were rarely observed within the seminiferous epithelium, extensive degeneration of spermatogenic cells was observed within affected tubules. Sertoli cells phagocytosed degenerating germ cells at all stages of differentiation. In-vitro co-cultivation of syngeneic T/tw18 spleen and testicular cells revealed that testicular cells from sterile T/tw18 mice failed to activate suppressor T lymphocytes; consequently, the syngeneic splenocytes displayed a vigorous proliferative response to testicular autoantigens. Testicular cells from younger, fertile T/tw18 males, on the other hand, behaved like testicular cells from normal mice, triggering suppressor T cell activity and, thereby, abrogating proliferation of splenocytes. These results suggest genetic factors, introduced in the course of inbreeding and associated with chromosome 17, are responsible for the failure of spermatogenic cells from sterile T/tw18 males to maintain normal tolerance to their own antigens in vivo; allergic orchitis is an extreme manifestation of the inability of the defective germ cells to initiate normal T lymphocyte mediated suppression of an immune response.

Animals↗

Experimental allergic orchitis and aspermatogenesis. VI. Transfer of allergic orchitis with immune cells.

Typical experimental allergic orchitis (EAO) and aspermatogenesis were successfully transferred to strain 13 guinea pigs with peritoneal exudate and lymph node cells from male and female donor guinea pigs (lacking detectable antibody) previously sensitized with 9 mug of highly purified GP1 glucoprotein isolated from the sperm acrosome. Attempts to transfer the disease with circulating antibody from hyperimmunized animals were not successful. These studies support a cell-mediated basis for the immunopathologic events in EAO.

Animals↗

Experimental allergic aspermatogenic orchitis. III. Isolation of spermatozoal glycoproteins and their role in allergic aspermatogenic orchitis.

Four glycoproteins (GP1,2,3 and 4) rich in carbohydrate were isolated from guinea pig testes. GP1, 2, and 4 (one or more) were localized in the sperm acrosome by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Purification consisted of delipidation with chloroform-methanol (2:1), acid extraction at pH 3.0, precipitation with 85% saturated ammonium sulfate, extraction with 5% trichloroacetic acid, and either gel filtration on agarose or ultrafiltration. The final purification steps were isoelectrofocusing or gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 followed by preparative slab gel electrophoresis at pH 8.6. Each glycoprotein appeared homogeneous by gel electrophoresis at pH 2.7 and 8.6, and by immunoelectrophoresis. The crude glycoprotein fraction from the agarose column was resolved into the three major components, GP1, 2, and 3, distinguished by their isoelectric points (pI 3.9, 4.4, and 5.0, respectively), electrophoretic mobilities at pH 8.6, and reactivities with antiserum in immunoelectrophoresis. GP4, isolated by ultrafiltration and Sephadex G-75 chromatography, was differentiated by the same criteria. Approximately 5 mg each of purified GP1, 3, and 4 and 2 to 3 mg of GP2 were isolated from 1000 g of wet guinea pig testes. GP1, 2, and 4 induced precipitating antibody in rabbits and goats. GP1 and GP4 induced allergic aspermatogenic orchitis in guinea pigs, an autoimmune disease characterized by infiltration of mononuclear cells around and within the seminiferous tubules, followed by extensive destruction of the germinal epithelium. The course of the disease induced by 2 mug of either GP1 or GP4 was essentially identical in time course and pathology to that induced by whole testicular homogenates or 1 mug of purified acrosomal protein (AP1).

Acrosome↗

Brucellar epididymo-orchitis in Saudi Arabia: a retrospective study of 26 cases and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical and laboratory features and response to treatment of patients with acute brucellar epididymo-orchitis reporting to a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, and to compare these with other cases reported previously. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, records of all 26 adult patients with brucellosis, who presented with epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh from 1983 to 2000, were reviewed. Positive blood culture or high agglutination titres of > or = 1 : 320 and positive clinical manifestations of brucellosis were the main criteria for diagnosing brucellosis. Among these cases, epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis was diagnosed on the basis of a typical history of gradual onset of scrotal pain and findings of enlarged tender testes and/or epididymis. RESULTS: Epididymo-orchitis occurred in 1.6% of all patients with brucellosis. Most (58%) were 25--44 years old; approximately 77% of the patients presented with acute symptoms of < 2 weeks' duration. All patients complained of swollen painful testicles. Other presenting symptoms included undulant fever (96%), chills (54%) and arthralgia (23%). Four patients had dysuria and one haematuria. Ten patients gave a positive history of ingestion of raw milk and milk products; one patient had laboratory-acquired brucellosis. Six patients had unilateral epididymo-orchitis (two with features of florid presentation); the remaining 20 had only orchitis (bilateral in two, right in 10 and left in eight). Leucocytosis was present in six patients; 25 had initial agglutination titres of > 1 : 320 and the remaining patient had a positive blood culture. All patients received combined therapy with streptomycin for the first 2 weeks (or oral rifampicin for 6 weeks) with doxycycline or tetracycline for 6 weeks. All showed improvement, fever subsided in 2--5 days and the scrotal enlargement and tenderness regressed. Only one patient had a relapse within one year. CONCLUSION: In brucellosis-endemic areas, clinicians encountering epididymo-orchitis should consider the likelihood of brucellosis. A careful history, a meticulous physical examination and a rapid laboratory evaluation help in diagnosis. Clinical and serological data are sufficient for diagnosis. Leucocytosis is not an atypical feature of brucellar epididymo-orchitis and so cannot be used for differentiating it from the nonspecific variety. Conservative management with combination antibiotic therapy is adequate for managing brucellar epididymo-orchitis.

Adolescent↗

Endemic brucellar epididymo-orchitis: a 10-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: To present epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory features, treatment and outcome of patients suffering from Brucella melitensis-induced epididymo-orchitis, in comparison with cases of nonspecific epididymo-orchitis. Distinction between these two entities is essential, as treatment and outcome are entirely different. METHODS: In this retrospective study, records of 17 patients serologically diagnosed as suffering from B. melitensis epididymo-orchitis were reviewed in comparison with 141 cases of non-Brucella epididymo-orchitis. All patients presented consecutively at a tertiary hospital in southwestern Greece, from 1991 to 2000. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. RESULTS: B. melitensis epididymo-orchitis differed from nonspecific epididymo-orchitis, due to its high occupational risk, seasonal pattern, gradual onset (P<0.01), longer duration, typical undulatory fever (P<0.05), absence of serious leukocytosis (P<0.05) and lower urinary tract symptoms, and relatively minimal local signs of florid inflammation (P<0.01). Oral medication with doxycycline and rifampicin for 6 weeks was effective, and no relapses or serious side effects were recorded during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: B. melitensis-induced epididymo-orchitis is a recognized clinical problem in endemic regions, requiring early detection and appropriate medication. Clinicians encountering epididymo-orchitis should consider the likelihood of brucellosis and initiate anti-Brucella medication upon clinical diagnosis and not only after serologic confirmation.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

The incidence and outcome of mumps orchitis in Rochester, Minnesota, 1935 to 1974.

A population-based study of mumps orchitis over a 40-year period in Rochester, Minnesota, is reported. All medical records for patients with orchitis, atrophic testis, parotitis, and diagnosed or suspected mumps for the population of Rochester were reviewed, and detailed abstracts were prepared for all those with mumps orchitis. Information abstracted included the relationship of testicular to parotid involvement, the presence of unilateral or bilateral testicular involvement and subsequent atrophy, the presence of other complications of mumps, the treatment of mumps orchitis, and the presence of other major diagnoses. Also investigated was the number of subsequent congenital malformations in male offspring of these patients. The age distribution of the patients with orchitis (median age, 29 years) differed appreciably from those with mumps (median age, 8 years). There was no apparent increase in genitourinary malformations in the male offspring conceived after the occurrence of mumps orchitis in the fathers. Of the 132 men who had orchitis, 2 subsequently had testicular neoplasms. Both of these patients were in the group of 47 who were noted to have an atrophic testis after the occurrence of orchitis.

Adolescent↗

Mumps orchitis: report of a mini-epidemic.

PURPOSE: The incidence of mumps orchitis has declined dramatically since the introduction of vaccination. While in the past cases of mumps have only been seen occasionally at our institution, recently there has been a sharp increase in the number of confirmed cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1995 and April 1996, 11 patients with severe mumps orchitis were hospitalized at our clinic. Medical history, therapeutic measures and clinical outcome were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: All patients showed marked scrotal swelling with a temperature above 38.5 C. Serum C-reactive protein was significantly elevated (mean 140 mg./l.). The vaccination status of 1 of the 11 patients (9%) was unknown. Medical records from the remaining 10 patients indicated that they had not been vaccinated. Nine patients (82%) had a typical mumps parotitis preceding the orchitis. In 2 patients the clinical diagnosis of parotitis was uncertain but mumps serology was positive. None of the patients showed other manifestations of mumps. Antibodies to the mumps virus (IgG and IgM) were determined in 6 patients and positive in all cases. The average interval between parotitis and onset of orchitis was 10 days. All patients were hospitalized for an average of 6 days. Treatment included bed rest with local cooling, scrotal support and systemic treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ciprofloxacin or clavulanic acid/amoxicillin was administered as bacterial orchitis could not be excluded at initial presentation. The mean time to cessation of fever was 3.6 days (range 3 to 5). Antibiotics were administered for an average of 8.8 days (range 7 to 13) and anti-inflammatory drugs were given an average of 8.6 days (range 7 to 11). One patient required scrotal exploration. CONCLUSIONS: Since the introduction of a vaccine against the mumps virus there is a diminished risk for mumps and its complications. However, in case of scrotal swelling mumps orchitis should still be considered. Despite vaccination mumps has not been erradicated. Therefore, continued vaccination should be considered an important step in minimizing clinical outbreaks and working towards a possible eradication of this disease in the future.

Adolescent↗

Cysts of the ejaculatory system--a treatable cause of recurrent epididymo-orchitis in children.

PURPOSE: The commonest causes of acutely painful scrotum are torsion (of appendix of the testis or the testis itself) and epididymo-orchitis. Exploration is the only way to prove the diagnosis and multiple such procedures are performed in patients with recurrent epididymo-orchitis. The purpose of our study was to investigate the cause of recurrent epididymo-orchitis in pre-pubertal children. Four children, aged three years or less, were investigated for recurrent left epididymo-orchitis. All four had cystic dilatation of the ejaculatory duct in the region of the prostatic utriculus, associated in two children with ectopic opening of the vas in the bladder. Initial ultrasound appeared to be normal in all four patients, a retrospective review of the sonographic films, however, revealed a retrovesical cyst in three of them. The diagnosis was established by a combination of urethroscopy with retrograde contrast study via the utriculus and open vasography. All four cases were treated operatively by a transtrigonal approach. The cyst was excised in each case. In one, a vasovasostomy was performed between the left and the normal right vas; in the other three the left vas was anastomosed to the blind end of the contralateral seminal vesicle. All four are symptom-free at one year follow-up. Cysts of the ejaculatory duct are a treatable cause of recurrent epididymo-orchitis. Pre-pubertal children with recurrent epididymo-orchitis and no obvious underlying cause should have a thorough sonographic examination of the retrovesical region for cystic lesions.

Child, Preschool↗

Pituitary-testicular interrelationships in mumps orchitis and other viral infections.

Leydig-cell function was assessed in 27 men with acute mumps orchitis by measuring plasma testosterone concentrations before and after the administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). The test was also performed on groups of patients with other febrile viral infections and mumps without orchitis and on healthy euspermic men. The concentrations both before and after HCG were significantly lower in patients in the acute phase of mumps-but not in those with other viral infections and mumps without orchitis-than in the healthy men. Basal concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) were significantly increased in patients with acute mumps orchitis, while an exaggerated response to LH-releasing hormone was noted in four patients after the acute phase of the disease. Raised plasma LH concentrations were also found in several patients with viral infections, including mumps without orchitis. There appeared to be no particular merit of any of the treatments used (aspirin, prednisolone, and cold baths). In patients reevaluated three to five and 10 to 12 months after the acute phase of their disease the basal testosterone concentrations were similar to those of the healthy men, but several of the patients showed a severely impaired response to HCG. Mean basal FSH and LH concentrations were significantly increased 10 to 12 months after the acute phase, while the mean LH concentration was also raised at three to five months.It is concluded that mumps orchitis impairs Leydigcell function during the acute phase of the disease but may also have a more permanent damaging effect, similar to that found in the germinal epithelium.

Acute Disease↗

Cell-mediated and humoral immune responses to aspermatogenic antigen in experimental allergic orchitis in the guinea-pig.

Guinea-pigs were immunized with a defined and highly potent aspermatogenic antigen, G75m, and the occurrence of orchitis was correlated with (1) cell-mediated immune response to G75m, determined by lymph node cell proliferation and by secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) by peritoneal exudate cells, and (2) humoral antibodies to G75m and to cell surface antigens of guinea-pig testicular cells, by radioimmunometric assays. A consistent temporal relationship between cell-mediated immune responses and disease was found: lymph node cell proliferation was positive by Day 4, followed 3 days later by maximum secretion of MIF, and orchitis lesions were manifest on Day 10. In contrast, maximal IgG antibodies to G75m or to the surface antigens of spermatozoa/testicular cells were detected at a time when cell-mediated immune responses and active testicular lesions had subsided. In individual animals, lymph node cell proliferation increased with severity of orchitis, while MIF secretion by peritoneal cells increased with orchitis only late in the disease. Early in disease, MIF response showed a negative correlation with orchitis. Moreover, peritoneal injection of oil reduced the incidence of early lymph node cell proliferative responses, and delayed the onset of testicular disease. These findings are consistent with competition between different inflammatory sites for recently antigen-activated T lymphocytes. We conclude that (1) the development of orchitis correlates with cell-mediated immune responses to purified aspermatogenic antigens but not with IgG antibody responses, and (2) when the same animal is used to assess different aspects of cellular immunity and autoimmune disease, one study may significantly influence the other.

Animals↗

Alterations of testicular function after induced autoimmune orchitis in rats.

The endocrinological profile of animals with experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) has not been sufficiently explored. With this purpose orchitis was induced in adult rats by active immunization with testicular homogenate (TH) and adjuvants. Animals were sacrificed 50 or 80 days after the first immunization. Forty-three percent of rats immunized with TH developed orchitis. Different degrees of cell sloughing and atrophy of the seminiferous tubules and numerous macrophages and lymphocytes in close association with Leydig cells were seen. A significant increase in the number of Leydig cells was observed in rats with orchitis killed at 50 and 80 days. An enhanced number of interstitial non-Leydig cells was also detected in rats with testicular damage killed at 80 days. Levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were two- to threefold higher in rats with EAO compared to concentrations detected in other groups. Moreover, rats with orchitis had significantly increased testicular testosterone. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) did not change in animals of any group. In vitro studies showed an increase in the basal and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated testosterone production in rats with EAO. The increase in testicular steroidogenesis without a concomitant enhancement in serum LH levels detected in rats with autoimmune orchitis suggests the existence of local control mechanisms.

Animals↗

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) in experimental autoimmune orchitis.

Experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) is characterized by an interstitial mononuclear cell infiltrate and a severe lesion of seminiferous tubules with germ cells that undergo apoptosis and sloughing. The mechanism by which immune cells migrate and extravasate in the testicular interstitium is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to detect the variations in the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) and its receptor in the testis of rats undergoing autoimmune orchitis. EAO was induced in Sprague-Dawley adult rats by active immunization with an emulsion of testicular homogenate and complete Freund adjuvant using Bordetella pertussis as co-adjuvant. Control rats injected with saline and adjuvants and normal untreated rats were also studied. By ELISA we observed a significant increase of MCP-1 in the testicular fluid (TF) and in the conditioned medium obtained from cultures of testicular macrophages of rats with EAO compared with control groups. By immunohistochemistry, an increase in MCP-1 expression was observed in mononuclear, endothelial, Leydig and peritubular cells. MCP-1 immunoreactivity was also detected in Sertoli cell cytoplasm of rats with severe orchitis. A 2-fold increase in the number of mononuclear cells that express CCR2 was also found in rats with orchitis compared with controls. In conclusion, we demonstrated in vivo that MCP-1 is highly expressed in testicular interstitial cells suggesting that this chemokine has an important role in recruiting immune cells to the testis in rats undergoing autoimmune orchitis.

Animals↗

Serum sperm antibodies are not elevated after mumps orchitis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of serum sperm antibodies after mumps orchitis. DESIGN: Controlled descriptive study. SETTING: Academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Seventy-four mumps orchitis patients. INTERVENTION(S): Sampling of serum at different intervals after the onset of orchitis symptoms: 1 to 7 days, 31 to 60 days, and 61 to 431 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Level of serum sperm antibodies, using Kibrick's gelatin agglutination test, Friberg's tray agglutination test, Isojima's sperm immobilization test, and ELISA. RESULT(S): Clinically relevant sperm antibody values were detected by the Friberg method among patients tested from 1 to 7 days (10.5%) and 61 to 431 days (10.5%) after the onset of disease. The Isojima test revealed a statistically insignificant higher incidence among patients at 61 to 431 days (31.6%) as compared with those sampled at 1 to 7 days (10.5%). None of the orchitis sera tested positive by the Kibrick and ELISA techniques. The established incidences did not differ significantly from the results for negative controls (blood donors) and were lower than the values acquired from positive controls (males with unexplained infertility). CONCLUSION(S): Mumps orchitis does not cause enhanced humoral immunity to spermatozoa.

Adolescent↗

Recurrent epididymo-orchitis in patients with Behçet's disease.

PURPOSE: We study the clinical features of epididymo-orchitis in patients with Behçet's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 57 men with Behçet's disease 7 had epididymo-orchitis during the course of disease. A questionnaire was applied to all cases and the clinical features were recorded. HLA class 1 was determined and a pathergy test was performed. RESULTS: All 7 patients fulfilled the international study group criteria for Behçet's disease. All patients had recurrent oral ulcers, skin lesions (folliculitis, erythema nodosum-like lesions) and uveitis, and 6 had recurrent genital ulcers, 2 arthritis, 1 vasculitis and 4 central nervous system involvement. The pathergy test was positive in 4 patients and all had B5(51). The allele B5101 was present in 6 patients and 1 had B5102. Recurrences were observed in 5 patients. Concurrent symptoms with epididymo-orchitis consisted of oral ulcers, fever, uveitis, arthritis and penile ulcer. Colchicine, glucocorticoids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cyclosporine were administered. CONCLUSIONS: Epididymo-orchitis in patients with Behçet's disease is not as infrequent as believed. It was not the first manifestation of the disease but developed during followup. In any patient with epididymo-orchitis Behçet's disease should be considered, particularly in regions with a high prevalence of the disease.

Adult↗

Serum sperm antibodies unrelated to mumps orchitis.

In order to determine whether there is an association between mumps orchitis and serum sperm antibodies, we tested patients at the time orchitis was diagnosed (n = 7) and individuals who had had orchitis at least 1 month previously (n = 14). Data were compared with the results for a control group of blood donors (n = 20). Sperm antibodies were detected by the gelatin agglutination test of Kibrick, the tray agglutination test of Friberg and the ELISA. Clinically significant sperm antibody levels were not found in patients in the early stages of the disease. Four subjects tested post-disease were positive in the Friberg test and one was positive in the ELISA. One control serum was also positive in the latter test. Significant differences were not found between levels in patients in the early stages of the disease and levels in individuals post-disease, although the results of the Friberg test differed significantly between controls and former mumps orchitis cases. These data do not support the assumption of an involvement of humoral immunity against spermatozoa in mumps orchitis patients.

Agglutination Tests↗