Detection of HIV and HCV RNA in semen from Brazilian coinfected men using multiplex PCR before and after semen washing

Authors

  • Cynthia Liliane Motta do Canto Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Instituto de Medicina Tropical; Laboratório de Virologia
  • Aluisio C. Segurado Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Instituto de Medicina Tropical; Laboratório de Virologia
  • Cláudio Pannut Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Instituto de Medicina Tropical; Laboratório de Virologia
  • Agnaldo Cedenho São Paulo Federal University; Department of Surgery; Division of Urology; Human Reproduction Section
  • Miguel Srougi São Paulo Federal University; Department of Surgery; Division of Urology; Human Reproduction Section
  • Deborah Spaine São Paulo Federal University; Department of Surgery; Division of Urology; Human Reproduction Section
  • Silvana Fernandes Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Instituto de Medicina Tropical; Laboratório de Virologia
  • Nadily Carretiero Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Instituto de Medicina Tropical; Laboratório de Virologia
  • Maria Carolina Bernal Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Instituto de Medicina Tropical; Laboratório de Virologia
  • José Eduardo Levi Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Instituto de Medicina Tropical; Laboratório de Virologia

Keywords:

HIV, HCV, Coinfection, Serodiscordant couples, Semen washing, Swim-up

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Prolonged survival of patients under HAART has resulted in new demands for assisted reproductive technologies. HIV serodiscordant couples wish to make use of assisted reproduction techniques in order to avoid viral transmission to the partner or to the newborn. It is therefore essential to test the effectiveness of techniques aimed at reducing HIV and HCV loads in infected semen using molecular biology tests. METHODS: After seminal analysis, semen samples from 20 coinfected patients were submitted to cell fractioning and isolation of motile spermatozoa by density gradient centrifugation and swim-up. HIV and HCV RNA detection tests were performed with RNA obtained from sperm, seminal plasma and total semen. RESULTS: In pre-washing semen, HIV RNA was detected in 100% of total semen samples, whereas HCV RNA was concomitantly amplified in only one specimen. Neither HIV nor HCV were detected either in the swim-up or in the post-washing semen fractions. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of HIV and/or HCV shedding in semen by density gradient centrifugation followed by swim-up is an efficient method. These findings lead us to believe that, although semen is rarely found to contain HCV, semen processing is highly beneficial for HIV/HCV coinfected individuals.

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Published

2006-08-01

Issue

Section

HIV

How to Cite

Canto, C. L. M. do, Segurado, A. C., Pannut, C., Cedenho, A., Srougi, M., Spaine, D., Fernandes, S., Carretiero, N., Bernal, M. C., & Levi, J. E. (2006). Detection of HIV and HCV RNA in semen from Brazilian coinfected men using multiplex PCR before and after semen washing . Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 48(4), 201-206. https://revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/31008