Absence of 2019 novel coronavirus in semen and testes of COVID-19 patients†

Song, Ci; Wang, Yan; Li, Weiqin; Hu, Bingbing; Chen, Guohua; Xia, Ping; Wang, Wei; Li, Chao‐Jun; Diao, Feiyang; Hu, Zhibin; Yang, Xiaoyu; Yao, Bing; Liu, Yun

doi:10.1093/biolre/ioaa050

Cited by 262 publications

(280 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The authors also investigated the expression profile of ACE2 and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) within the human testicle and reported that ACE2-mediated viral entry into target host cells within the human testicle is unlikely. The second and similar results were reported by Song et al [17]. They have shown the absence of SARS-COV-2 in semen samples in 12 recovered patients and in the testes of one deceased patient during acute infection [17].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…First, it was reported that SARS-COV-2 was not detected in semen of a 31-year-old man in the recovery period [4]. Later, small case series were reported to support this finding [5, 17-19]. Pan et al [5] reported that they did not detect SARS-CoV-2 in the semen of 34 Chinese male patients recovering from COVID-19.However, collecting semen samples after patients recover is a major limitation of the study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in Semen of Patients in the Acute Stage of COVID-19 Infection

Korukluoğlu²,

et al. 2020

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Introduction: The presence of new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in semen and the possibility of sexual transmission have become new subjects of curiosity. There is a discrepancy regarding this issue in the literature. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen has been investigated in a limited number of studies, and mostly in recovering patients. We aimed to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen of patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab test for SARS-CoV-2 in the acute stage. Methods: We enrolled adult male patients who were hospitalized with confirmed SARS-COV-2 infection in the study. In addition to routine laboratory and radiological tests, semen sample was obtained from volunteers and transferred to the Turkish Public Health Institution, National Virology Laboratory. The samples were processed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on the day of collection. Results: Sixteen patients were included in the study. The median age was 33.5 years (18-54). All but one had respiratory symptoms. None of the patients had a history or symptoms of urogenital disease. All semen samples were obtained during hospitalization and in the acute stage of the infection. The median time to obtain a semen sample after positive nasopharyngeal test was 1 day (0-7). All semen samples were detected as negative for SARS-CoV-2 PCR. Discussion/Conclusion: Although all semen samples were obtained in acute stage of the infection when the nasopharyngeal swab test was positive, we did not detect SARS-CoV-2 in semen. The results of our study support the thought that sexual transmission via semen does not have an important role in the person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We think that our study will provide new information to fill the gap in the literature.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in Semen of Patients in the Acute Stage of COVID-19 Infection

Korukluoğlu²,

et al. 2020

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“…Conversely, we recently found that a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive patient did not harbor viral RNA in his semen and urine during the remission phase (about a week after the positive nasopharyngeal swab) [24], and similar results were observed by Song et al in several recovering patients [25]. Pan et al confirmed, in a longer follow-up of 34 patients, that viral RNA was undetectable in their seminal fluid about one month after COVID-19 diagnosis [26].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Sperm cryopreservation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Paoli

Pallotti

Nigro

et al. 2020

J Endocrinol Invest

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Purpose Sperm cryopreservation is fundamental in the management of patients undergoing gonadotoxic treatments. Concerns have risen in relation to SARS-CoV-2 and its potential for testicular involvement, since SARS-CoV-2-positive cryopreserved samples may have unknown effects on fertilization and embryo safety. This study therefore aimed to analyze the safety of sperm cryopreservation for cancer patients after the onset of the pandemic in Italy, through assessment of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and viral RNA testing of semen samples. Methods We recruited 10 cancer patients (mean age 30.5 ± 9.6 years) referred to our Sperm Bank during the Italian lockdown (from March 11th to May 4th 2020) who had not undergone a nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 testing. Patients were administered a questionnaire on their exposure to COVID-19, and semen samples were taken. Before cryopreservation, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was extracted from a 150 µl aliquot of seminal fluid in toto using QIAamp viral RNA kit (Qiagen) and amplified by a real time RT PCR system (RealStar SARS-CoV2 RT PCR, Altona Diagnostics) targeting the E and S genes. Results The questionnaire and medical interview revealed that all patients were asymptomatic and had had no previous contact with COVID-19 infected patients. All semen samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Conclusion This preliminary assessment suggests that a thorough evaluation (especially in the setting of a multidisciplinary team) and molecular confirmation of the absence of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid from asymptomatic cancer patients may assist in ensuring the safety of sperm cryopreservation.

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“…A first Italian case report failed to identify SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the semen and urine of a man diagnosed with the virus in nose-pharyngeal swab [ 138 ]. Later, no evidence of the virus was found in the semen of men infected by COVID-19 at both acute and recovery phases [ 139 , 140 , 141 ] and in one post-mortem testis sample [ 139 ]. Similarly, in a mild COVID-19 patient cohort, no SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected after a median of 32 days from the first symptoms; moreover, total sperm number, total motile sperm counts and sperm morphology parameters were all within normal ranges [ 142 ].…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 Detection In the Reproductive System And Effecmentioning

confidence: 99%

Renin Angiotensin System, COVID-19 and Male Fertility: Any Risk for Conceiving?

et al. 2020

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The current knowledge concerning the connection between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) system in the male reproductive apparatus is still limited, so dedicated studies are urgently required. Concerns about the male fertility consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection have started to emerge, since epidemiologic studies observed that this coronavirus affects male patients more frequently and with increased severity, possibly because of the hormone-regulated expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. A disturbance in fertility is also expected based on studies of the previous SARS-CoV infection, which targets the same ACE2 receptor when entering the host cells. In addition, bioinformatics analyses reveal the abundant expression of ACE2 receptor in the male reproductive tissues, particularly in the testis. It has been proposed that pharmacological intervention favoring the angiotensin-(1–7)/ACE2/Mas receptor pathway and increasing ACE2 expression and activity could greatly prevent inflammatory lesions in this area. Finally, in laboratories performing assisted reproductive technologies it is recommended that more attention should be paid not only to sperm quality but also to safety aspects. Data about the potential infectivity of seminal fluid are in fact conflicting and do not exclude risks for both personnel and patients. The potential infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in reproductive male tissues should be strongly considered and further investigated for the proper management of in vitro fertilization procedures.

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Absence of 2019 novel coronavirus in semen and testes of COVID-19 patients†

Cited by 262 publications

References 7 publications

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in Semen of Patients in the Acute Stage of COVID-19 Infection

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in Semen of Patients in the Acute Stage of COVID-19 Infection

Sperm cryopreservation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Renin Angiotensin System, COVID-19 and Male Fertility: Any Risk for Conceiving?

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