Histopathology and Ultrastructural Findings of Fatal COVID-19 Infections on Testis

Achua, Justin K.; Chu, Kevin Y.; Ibrahim, Emad; Khodamoradi, Kajal; Delma, Katiana S.; Iakymenko, Oleksii A.; Kryvenko, Oleksandr N.; Arora, Himanshu; Ramasamy, Ranjith

doi:10.5534/wjmh.200170

Cited by 107 publications

(125 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In Reply.-We thank Dr Iakymenko and colleagues for their comments and description of transmission electron microscopy findings. 1,2 While we and others did not observe direct virus invasion in the testis, other recent studies have found the presence of the virus particles in the testicular parenchyma when using various modalities (transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemical, and in situ hybridization studies). 3 The infrequency or inability to detect viral particles in the testis raises different possibilities: that either tissue sampling, the timing of tissue sampling, or the sensitivity of the detection method may play a role.…”

contrasting

confidence: 42%

In Reply

Flaifel

Melamed

Deng

2021

Archives of Pathology &Amp; Laboratory Medicine

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Note: This article was posted on the Archives Web site as an Early Online Release. Early Online Release articles have been peer reviewed, copyedited, and reviewed by the authors. Additional changes or corrections may appear in these articles when they appear in a future print issue of the Archives. Early Online Release articles are citable by using the Digital Object Identifier (DOI), a unique number given to every article.

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contrasting

confidence: 42%

In Reply

Flaifel

Melamed

Deng

2021

Archives of Pathology &Amp; Laboratory Medicine

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“…Transmission electron microscopy performed in 3 out 12 cases was not able to identify SARS-CoV-2 viral particles, while RT-PCR was able to detect the virus in one case [108]. This lymphocytic and macrophage infiltration was confirmed by more recent studies in six autoptic samples by Achua et al, along finding of normal spermatogenesis in 50% of the samples and various abnormalities of spermatogenesis in the remaining 50% [109]. Moreover, Li et al evaluated six testicular and epididymal autoptic specimens and found interstitial edema, congestion, red blood cell exudation in testes/epididymides and thinning of seminiferous tubules, with an increased concentration of CD3+ and CD68+ in the interstitium.…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 and Testismentioning

confidence: 72%

Relationship between betacoronaviruses and the endocrine system: a new key to understand the COVID-19 pandemic—A comprehensive review

Piticchio

Moli

Tumino

et al. 2021

J Endocrinol Invest

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Background A new harmful respiratory disease, called COVID-19 emerged in China in December 2019 due to the infection of a novel coronavirus, called SARS-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which belongs to the betacoronavirus genus, including SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 shares almost 80% of the genome with SARS-CoV-1 and 50% with MERS-CoV. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 proteins share a high degree of homology (approximately 95%) with SARS-CoV-1 proteins. Hence, the mechanisms of SARS-Cov-1 and SARS-Cov-2 infection are similar and occur via binding to ACE2 protein, which is widely distributed in the human body, with a predominant expression in endocrine tissues including testis, thyroid, adrenal and pituitary. Purpose On the basis of expression pattern of the ACE2 protein among different tissues, similarity between SARS-Cov-1 and SARS-Cov-2 and the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease, we aimed at discussing, after almost one-year pandemic, about the relationships between COVID-19 infection and the endocrine system. First, we discussed the potential effect of hormones on the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection; second, we examined the evidences regarding the effect of COVID-19 on the endocrine system. When data were available, a comparative discussion between SARS and COVID-19 effects was also performed. Methods A comprehensive literature search within Pubmed was performed. This review has been conducted according to the PRISMA statements. Results Among 450, 100 articles were selected. Tissue and vascular damages have been shown on thyroid, adrenal, testis and pituitary glands, with multiple alterations of endocrine function. Conclusion Hormones may affect patient susceptibility to COVID-19 infection but evidences regarding therapeutic implication of these findings are still missing. SARS and COVID-19 may affect endocrine glands and their dense vascularization, impairing endocrine system function. A possible damage of endocrine system in COVID-19 patients should be investigated in both COVID-19 acute phase and recovery to identify both early and late endocrine complications that may be important for patient’s prognosis and well-being after COVID-19 infection.

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“…In situ hybridization has failed, at the moment, to find both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in the testicular tissue (50,(66)(67)(68), while there is a report of SARS-CoV-2 particle detection in one testis specimen by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), possibly associated with high viral load (66). A testicular specimen analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) recently demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in a single autopsy of an infected COVID-19 patient (69).…”

Section: Testis and Semenmentioning

confidence: 99%