1. Presence and Persistence of Zika Virus RNA in Semen, United Kingdom, 2016
- Author
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Emma Aarons, Christina Petridou, Andrew J. H. Simpson, Timothy Brooks, Roger Hewson, Barry Atkinson, Daniel Bailey, and Fiona Thorburn
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Microbiology (medical) ,Sexual transmission ,Epidemiology ,media_common.quotation_subject ,vector-borne infections ,lcsh:Medicine ,Semen ,mosquitoborne ,lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases ,Zika virus ,03 medical and health sciences ,Zika ,0302 clinical medicine ,flavivirus ,medicine ,Humans ,viruses ,lcsh:RC109-216 ,030212 general & internal medicine ,media_common ,Pregnancy ,Fetus ,biology ,Zika Virus Infection ,Research ,Convalescence ,lcsh:R ,Presence and Persistence of Zika Virus RNA in Semen, United Kingdom, 2016 ,RNA ,semen ,persistence ,Zika Virus ,medicine.disease ,biology.organism_classification ,Virology ,United Kingdom ,sexual transmission ,Flavivirus ,030104 developmental biology ,Infectious Diseases ,RNA, Viral - Abstract
Zika virus RNA has been detected in semen collected several months after onset of symptoms of infection. Given the potential for sexual transmission of Zika virus and for serious fetal abnormalities resulting from infection during pregnancy, information regarding the persistence of Zika virus in semen is critical for advancing our understanding of potential risks. We tested serial semen samples from symptomatic male patients in the United Kingdom who had a diagnosis of imported Zika virus infection. Among the initial semen samples from 23 patients, Zika virus RNA was detected at high levels in 13 (56.5%) and was not detected in 9 (39.1%); detection was indeterminate in 1 sample (4.4%). After symptomatic infection, a substantial proportion of men have detectable Zika virus RNA at high copy numbers in semen during early convalescence, suggesting high risk for sexual transmission. Viral RNA clearance times are not consistent and can be prolonged.
- Published
- 2017