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Intermittent detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in semen from men with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) and HCV
Author(s) -
Pasquier Christophe,
Bujan Louis,
Daudin Myriam,
Righi Laurence,
Berges Laetitia,
Thauvin Laurence,
Berrebi Alain,
Massip Patrice,
Puel Jacqueline,
Izopet Jacques
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.10295
Subject(s) - semen , hepatitis c virus , virology , virus , hepatitis c , viral load , biology , medicine , immunology , andrology
Abstract HCV is usually transmitted via the blood, but HCV RNA has been detected recently in seminal fluid. This study was done to study HCV seminal shedding and factors that could influence the presence of HCV in the seminal fluid of men coinfected with HCV and HIV‐1. HCV and HIV‐1 genomes were assayed in multiple paired blood and semen samples obtained from 35 men enrolled in an assisted medical procreation protocol. HCV RNA was found intermittently in semen samples from 9 patients (25.7%). Samples from 9 men with HCV RNA in their semen and 26 men without were compared to further analyze these parameters. No correlation was found between HCV RNA in the seminal fluid and age, HCV virus load, the duration of HIV‐1 infection, HIV treatment, the CD4 + cell count, HIV‐1 virus load or HIV‐1 detection in the semen. The intermittent detection of HCV RNA in semen samples support the systematic search for HCV RNA in semen and the use of processed spermatozoa in assisted medical procreation of infertile HCV serodiscordant couples. J. Med. Virol. 69:344–349, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.