Sperm washing and virus nucleic acid detection to reduce HIV and hepatitis C virus transmission in serodiscordant couples wishing to have children.
BACKGROUND
Use of a motile spermatozoa isolation process was assessed for reducing the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) during artificial insemination in HIV-serodiscordant couples in which the man is infected.


METHODS
Thirty-two HIV-1-infected clinically asymptomatic men, having a median CD4 cell count of 396 x 10(6)/l and a median blood plasma HIV-1 RNA content of 414 copies/ml. Of these, 16 were infected with both HIV and HCV.


METHODS
Motile spermatozoa were isolated from 51 semen samples by density gradient and 'swim-up'. HIV-1 and HCV genomes were detected and quantified in the blood plasma and seminal plasma, and detected in seminal cell fractions obtained during spermatozoa isolation.


RESULTS
HIV-1 RNA was detected in 30% of seminal plasma samples. HIV-1 genomes were found in 18% of seminal cell samples, but in none of the motile spermatozoa fractions after 'swim-up'. There was no correlation between the HIV-1 RNA concentrations in the blood and seminal plasma. HIV-1 genome was detected intermittently in patients who gave more than one sample. HCV RNA was detected in 20% of seminal plasma samples from HCV viraemic patients, but in no seminal cells or motile spermatozoa fractions.


CONCLUSIONS
Purification of motile spermatozoa by density gradient plus 'swim-up' reduced the HIV-1 and HCV genomes in the semen of infected individuals to undetectable levels. This method, associated with a standardized virus assay, could be useful for serodiscordant couples (males infected) who wish to have children.
Pasquier
C
C
Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France.
Daudin
M
M
Righi
L
L
Berges
L
L
Thauvin
L
L
Berrebi
A
A
Massip
P
P
Puel
J
J
Bujan
L
L
Izopet
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005306:Fertilization; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000821:virology*; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014766:Viremia
D012367:RNA, Viral