Premium
Presence of HHV ‐6 genome in spermatozoa in a context of couples with low fertility: what type of infection?
Author(s) -
Godet A. N.,
Soig G.,
Koubi H.,
Bonnafous P.,
Agut H.,
Poirot C.,
GautheretDejean A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.12299
Subject(s) - semen , biology , sperm , extrachromosomal dna , genome , viral load , polymerase chain reaction , context (archaeology) , fertility , virology , dna , genetics , andrology , virus , population , gene , medicine , paleontology , environmental health
Summary Human herpesvirus‐6 ( HHV ‐6) is a betaherpesvirus whose genome may integrate into human chromosomes. Chromosomally integrated HHV ‐6 (ci HHV ‐6) may be transmitted vertically from parents to children. HHV ‐6 DNA has been detected in semen, but its integrated or extrachromosomal status has not yet been characterised. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HHV ‐6 DNA and to search for ci HHV ‐6 forms in spermatozoa purified from semen obtained from subjects explored for low fertility. A total of 184 sperm samples were purified using PureSperm ® . HHV ‐6 viral load and species identification were performed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Of 179 sperm specimens analysed, three were positive for HHV ‐6 (1.7%). Two samples (1.1%) had viral loads of 680 232 and 2 834 075 copies per million spermatozoa, compatible with loads expected for a ci HHV ‐6 form. The viral load of the third positive sample (73 684 copies per million spermatozoa) was lower than would be expected for ci HHV ‐6 infection, implying that the HHV ‐6 DNA detected in spermatozoa corresponds mainly to ci HHV ‐6. However, viral DNA may also be detected at a low level that is not in favour of the presence of ci HHV ‐6. Further studies are necessary to determine the origin of detected viral genomes.