Open AccessDisproportionately High Semen Shedding of HIV Is Associated with Compartmentalized Cytomegalovirus Reactivation
Author(s) -
Prameet M. Sheth,
Ali Danesh,
Anthony Sheung,
Anuradha Rebbapragada,
Kamnoosh Shahabi,
Colin Kovacs,
Roberta Halpenny,
David Tilley,
Tony Mazzulli,
Kelly S. MacDonald,
David J. Kelvin,
Rupert Kaul
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the journal of infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.69
H-Index - 252
eISSN - 1537-6613
pISSN - 0022-1899
DOI - 10.1086/498576
Subject(s) - semen , sexual transmission , immunology , viral shedding , virology , viral load , biology , human cytomegalovirus , cytomegalovirus , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , medicine , andrology , viral disease , virus , herpesviridae , microbicide
Semen transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drives the global pandemic. HIV loads are generally lower in semen than in blood, but semen loads may be disproportionately high in a subgroup of men. HIV loads in semen exceeded those in blood in 9 (35%) of 26 of antiretroviral therapy-naive men, and disproportionately high shedding was strongly associated with compartmentalized semen cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation (odds ratio [OR], 10.5; P<.01). Overall, 17 of 26 participants were shedding CMV in semen. Semen levels of HIV and CMV were closely correlated (r=0.5; P<.01), independently of blood HIV load and CD4(+) T cell count. Prevention of CMV reactivation warrants further study as a possible strategy to reduce semen shedding of HIV.
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