Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (15)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cassuto, N.G.
Right arrow Articles by Devaux, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Cassuto, N.G.
Right arrow Articles by Devaux, A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 12, 3153-3156, December 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

A modified RT–PCR technique to screen for viral RNA in the semen of hepatitis C virus-positive men

N.G. Cassuto1,6, C. Sifer2, G. Feldmann2, D. Bouret1, F. Moret3, J.L. Benifla4, R. Porcher5, M. Naouri4, A. Neuraz4, S. Alvarez4, C. Poncelet4, P. Madelenat4 and A. Devaux2

1 Laboratoire Drouot, 75009 Paris, 2 Service d'Histologie-Embryologie-Cytogénétique et Biologie Cellulaire, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, 75018 Paris, 3 Laboratoire Roche, 38240 Meylan, 4 Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Bichat–Claude Bernard, 75018 Paris, 5 Departement de Biostatistique et d'Informatique Médicale, CHU Saint-Louis, 75010 Paris, France

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to use an adapted RT–PCR technique to assess the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in semen and also in different density gradient semen fractions collected from men with chronic viral hepatitis participating in an assisted reproduction programme. METHODS: This study included 50 semen samples from 35 HCV+ men, with active viral replication assessed by RT–PCR, collected the day of oocyte retrieval and used for assisted reproduction. These samples were subjected to standard assisted reproduction sperm preparation conditions, using density-gradient centrifugation with 45 and 90% layers. Aliquots of semen, 45 and 90% fractions, and embryo culture media were frozen at –80°C for subsequent virological analyses. All aliquots were tested with a commercially available HCV RNA assay, adapted for use with semen after a number of technical changes. This assay yielded a sensitivity of 50–100 HCV RNA copies/ml and strongly diminished the effect of seminal amplification inhibitors. RESULTS: HCV RNA was detected in 7/50 (14%) semen samples tested, 5/35 (14.3%) men. HCV RNA was found in only 1/50 45% fractions but never in the 90% fraction or embryo culture media. Sera from 3/5 men contained 3.19–7.40x105 IU/ml, while the two others had 4.5 and 11.7x106 IU/ml. However, HCV RNA was quantified at <600 IU/ml in the HCV+ semen of these five patients. The ongoing pregnancy rate was of 20% (10/50) with one delivery at the time of the present report. No anti-HCV antibody was found in any of the women or the newborn. CONCLUSIONS: Although HCV is present at low concentrations in the semen of a few HCV+ patients, no purified sperm fraction (i.e. 90% fraction) used in assisted reproduction was HCV+ and no seroconversion was observed in the women and the newborn, thereby suggesting a very low risk of virus transmission. Nevertheless, because the presence of HCV in semen implies a possible risk of nosocomial contamination, safety regulations must be strictly applied in assisted reproduction laboratories.

Key words: hepatitis C virus/IVF/purified sperm/sperm

6 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Laboratoire Drouot, Unité AMP, 19, rue Drouot, 75009 Paris, France.E-mail: ninocassuto{at}aol.com


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
P. Honeck, M. Weigel, S.T. Kwon, P. Alken, and S. Bross
Assisted procreation in cases of hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus infection of the male partner
Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2006; 21(5): 1117 - 1121.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
A. M. Abou-Setta
Transmission risk of hepatitis C virus via semen during assisted reproduction: how real is it?
Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2004; 19(12): 2711 - 2717.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
A. Papaxanthos-Roche, P. Trimoulet, M. Commenges-Ducos, C. Hocke, H.J.A. Fleury, and G. Mayer
PCR-detected hepatitis C virus RNA associated with human zona-intact oocytes collected from infected women for ART
Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2004; 19(5): 1170 - 1175.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
Y. Englert, B. Lesage, J.-P. Van Vooren, C. Liesnard, I. Place, A.-S. Vannin, S. Emiliani, and A. Delbaere
Medically assisted reproduction in the presence of chronic viral diseases
Hum. Reprod. Update, March 1, 2004; 10(2): 149 - 162.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
A. Devaux, V. Soula, C. Sifer, M. Branger, M. Naouri, R. Porcher, C. Poncelet, A. Neuraz, S. Alvarez, J.L. Benifla, et al.
Hepatitis C virus detection in follicular fluid and culture media from HCV+ women, and viral risk during IVF procedures
Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2003; 18(11): 2342 - 2349.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.