Detection of high-risk HPV DNA in semen and its association with the quality of semen

Abstract

The effects of seminal high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA were assessed on the quality of semen. Semen samples of 65 men participating in the ongoing Finnish HPV Family Study were collected. Semen analyses were done by the guidelines of the Nordic Association for Andrology. HPV DNA was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction and confirmed by Southern blot hybridization for high-risk types. Altogether, 10/65 men (15.4%) had high-risk HPV DNA positive semen sample. Seminal high-risk HPV DNA did not affect semen volume, sperm concentration, motility and vitality of spermatozoa. However, semen pH was borderline lower in HPV DNA positive than negative samples (7.4 vs 7.5). Neither oligo- nor asthenozoospermia was associated with seminal HPV DNA. In conclusion, seminal high-risk HPV DNA was detected in 15% of men. It did not affect the semen analysis, except semen pH by borderline significance. Sperm donors have not been tested for HPV infections, sperm washing does not seem to eliminate the risk of HPV transmission and the consequences of HPV in the semen are at present unknown.

Prevalence of sexually transmissible pathogens in semen from asymptomatic male infertility patients with and without leukocytospermia

“…DNA from HPV 16, 18, 31 and 45 have been associated with invasive squamous cell cancers of the genital tract and anus (66,67). HPV is primarily transmitted through direct epithelial contact (62), but high risk HPV types have been detected in both semen and spermatozoa (68)(69)(70)(71), as well as in the vas deferens (72). In the current report, 3 out of the 8 cases that tested positive for generic HPV DNA were subtyped as HPV-16 (the other 5 cases were indeterminate).…”

“…HPV DNA was not associated with LCS but was associated with a significant decrease in total sperm count, and a statistically non-significant trend for lower total motile sperm count and neutral α-glucosidase concentrations. A previous study reported an association between HPV and reduced sperm motility (70), while another study did not find any affects on sperm quality (71). Thus, additional research is needed to determine whether HPV infection contributes to male infertility.…”

Human retinoblastoma is not caused by known pRb‐inactivating human DNA tumor viruses

“…HPV is not a systemic infection and therefore vertical transmission via hematogenous dissemination is not likely. Although HPV genomic DNA has been detected in washed sperm, 34 semen 35 and amniotic fluid, 36 this could be accounted for by contamination by anogenital epithelium. 37 Recent reports of HPV replication within trophoblast cells consistent with dissemination via the cervical os remain unconfirmed.…”

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection: a Mozambique overview

“…HPV is frequently detected in semen and can be localized at different levels: in sperm, in exfoliated cells or in both sites [68,37,35]. Many authors demonstrated that the presence of HPV in semen is associated with an impairment of sperm parameters, in particular, motility and the presence of sperm antibodies [37].…”

“…Only recently HPV has been partially taken into account for men's health and it has been well documented not only in the anal region, perineal area, scrotum, glans, penile shaft, and urethra, but also in the reproductive system (testis, epididymis, and ductus deferens) [38,59,76,53,31]. Moreover, several reports documented the presence of HPV in the semen and its association with an impairment of sperm motility and presence of anti-sperm antibodies [68,37,35]. These findings suggest a role for HPV on infertile couples and human reproduction and reinforce the concept of considering this infection not only in women but as a couple's problem [37].…”