Absence of hepatitis C genome in semen of infected men by polymerase chain reaction, branched DNA and <i>in situ</i> hybridization

Debono, E; Halfon, Philippe; Bourlière, Marc; Gerolami-Santandrea, V.; Gastaldi, Marguerite; Castellani, Paul; Cartouzou, G; Botta‐Fridlund, Danielle; Cau, Pierre; Gauthier, A.

doi:10.1034/j.1600-0676.2000.020003257.x

Cited by 39 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…The management of HCV-infected men enrolled in programs of medically assisted reproduction is highly dependent upon the definition of standardized protocols of detection of HCV RNA in semen. Actually, although previous studies have reported the presence of HCV RNA in seminal plasma of men chronically infected with HCV and coinfected (7,10,15) or not coinfected (12,13) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), other investigators have found the opposite pattern (6,8,16). Those contradictory results could be explained, at least in part, by the heterogeneity of the populations studied and by the diversity and the poor standardization of the techniques used for the extraction of RNA from semen and for the reverse transcription (RT)-PCR protocols.…”

mentioning

confidence: 73%

Detection and Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Seminal Plasma and Spermatozoon Fractions of Semen from Patients Attempting Medically Assisted Conception

Bourlet¹,

Lévy

Maertens³

et al. 2002

J Clin Microbiol

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To investigate the risk of transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) via semen in assisted reproduction techniques, semen samples from 32 men chronically infected with HCV attending a center for assisted procreation were tested for HCV RNA by a reverse transcription-PCR protocol by using a modified version of the Cobas AMPLICOR HCV assay (version 2.0; Roche Diagnostics). The sensitivity of the test was 40 copies/ml. Four of 32 seminal plasma samples (12.5%) were found to be positive for the presence of HCV RNA. The median HCV load in blood was significantly higher in patients who were found to be positive for the presence of HCV RNA in semen than in those who tested negative (P ‫؍‬ 0.02). In one man, seven consecutive seminal plasma samples tested positive for HCV RNA, as did two consecutive motile spermatozoon fractions; the corresponding fractions obtained after migration of the spermatozoa remained negative. Despite the absence of the proven infectivity of virus in semen samples that test positive for HCV RNA, these findings highlight the fact that seminal fluid may exhibit prolonged HCV RNA excretion. The usefulness of HCV RNA detection in both seminal plasma and spermatozoon fractions before the start of a program of medically assisted reproduction in couples in whom the male partner is chronically infected with HCV would need to be evaluated prospectively with a larger population of subjects exhibiting HCV RNA in their semen.The risk of transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) via seminal fluid is still much debated, especially in assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Even though the rate of HCV transmission by the sexual route has been found to be low (1, 9), the use of spermatozoa from men chronically infected with HCV in ART can lead to a theoretical risk of contamination for the female partner, for the technicians dealing with ART, and perhaps for the artificially conceived embryos of the couple or of other couples treated at the same time or stored in the same container. The management of HCV-infected men enrolled in programs of medically assisted reproduction is highly dependent upon the definition of standardized protocols of detection of HCV RNA in semen. Actually, although previous studies have reported the presence of HCV RNA in seminal plasma of men chronically infected with HCV and coinfected (7, 10, 15) or not coinfected (12, 13) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), other investigators have found the opposite pattern (6,8,16). Those contradictory results could be explained, at least in part, by the heterogeneity of the populations studied and by the diversity and the poor standardization of the techniques used for the extraction of RNA from semen and for the reverse transcription (RT)-PCR protocols. Moreover, the cellular fractions of semen, particularly the motile spermatozoa, have been poorly investigated for the presence of HCV.We report herein on the detection of HCV RNA in seminal plasma and, for the first time, in the motile spermatozoon fractions of semen from men chronically infecte...

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confidence: 73%

Detection and Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Seminal Plasma and Spermatozoon Fractions of Semen from Patients Attempting Medically Assisted Conception

Bourlet¹,

Lévy

Maertens³

et al. 2002

J Clin Microbiol

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“…Yet, among individuals infected by HCV, approximately 40% have no history of blood transfusion or intravenous drug use [2,3]. The role of sexual transmission in the spread of HCV infection has been a matter of debate for several years, with many studies suggesting its relevance [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12], while other authors continue to discount it [13][14][15]. Co-infection with HCV is common in subjects infected with HIV [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute hepatitis C in HIV‐infected men who have sex with men

Ghosn¹,

et al. 2004

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BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) is usually transmitted via the parenteral route, but there are widely discrepant findings on its possible sexual transmission. Thus there are no recommendations concerning protected sex for couples in which only one partner is HCV-infected. Whether HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases could favour HCV transmission remains unclear, but recent data suggesting an increasing incidence of acute HCV in HIV-infected men underline the major public health implications of this issue. Case reportsBetween June 2002 and July 2003, five HIV-infected homosexually active men presented with primary (n 5 4) and secondary (n 5 1) syphilis and concomitant abnormal liver function tests revealing acute asymptomatic HCV seroconversion. Other causes of acute viral hepatitis were inquired into and excluded. Highly at-risk sexual behaviour, including unprotected anal intercourse and unsafe oral sex, with concomitant syphilis, was found to be the only identifiable important risk factor for transmission of HCV. ConclusionsSexual transmission may be fuelling a significant increase in HCV seroconversions among HIVinfected men who have highly risky sexual behaviours. Given the recent data suggesting the spread of sexually transmitted infections among HIV-infected gay men, specific recommendations concerning safe sex are urgently needed.

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“…Thus IVF is not contraindicated in these couples (15,16). Moreover, the value of routine detection of HCV viral RNA in seminal fluid and culture medium is questionable (17), and the results must be interpreted with caution, as seminal amplification inhibitors may render the results of PCR unreliable (11,18). Notwithstanding the possibility of sexual transmission, a recent report has drawn attention to the possibility of nosocomial transmission of HCV during ancillary procedures for ART (19), indicating the need for exercising special precaution in specimen handing in the embryology laboratory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Performance of Couples Discordant for Hepatitis B and C Following IVF Treatment

Pirwany

Phillips

Kelly

et al. 2004

J Assist Reprod Genet

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Purpose : To examine the reproductive performance of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) discordant couples following IVF-ET. Methods : A retrospective cohort study of 25 IVF-ET cycles in HBV and HCV discordant couples was performed. Thirteen patients in the study cohort were discordant for HBV (10 males and 3 females), and 12 (9 males and 3 females) for HCV. Twenty-seven consecutive age matched patients comprised the control group. All patients underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using the long downregulation protocol followed by IVF or ICSI. Results : Patients in the three groups (HBV, HCV, and controls) had similar ages, and day 3 FSH concentrations. Despite comparable response to COH, and similar fertilization, and cleavage rates in the three groups, couples discordant for HBV or HCV had significantly poorer implantation and pregnancy rates (7.7%, 0% respectively) compared with controls (41%). Conclusions : Despite comparable response to COH, HBV and HCV positive discordant couples, have significantly lower implantation and pregnancy rates compared with age-matched controls.

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Absence of hepatitis C genome in semen of infected men by polymerase chain reaction, branched DNA and in situ hybridization

Cited by 39 publications

References 0 publications

Detection and Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Seminal Plasma and Spermatozoon Fractions of Semen from Patients Attempting Medically Assisted Conception

Detection and Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Seminal Plasma and Spermatozoon Fractions of Semen from Patients Attempting Medically Assisted Conception

Acute hepatitis C in HIV‐infected men who have sex with men

Reproductive Performance of Couples Discordant for Hepatitis B and C Following IVF Treatment

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