title: DNA of adeno-associated virus (AAV) in testicular tissue and in abnormal semen samples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human genital tissues, including spermatozoa, have been found to be frequently infected with the helper-virus dependent parvovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV).
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the role of AAV infection in disorders of the male reproductive system, semen samples from 95 men (including 73 men attending a fertility programme) and testicular samples from patients with azoospermia (n = 38) or prostate cancer (n = 8) were analysed using polymerase chain reaction for the presence of AAV DNA. Semen quality was assessed according to World Health Organization guidelines and the grade of atrophy of testicular biopsies was determined histomorphologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AAV DNA was detected in 38% (28/73) of ejaculates from men with abnormal semen analyses (oligoasthenozoospermia or asthenozoospermia) and in 4.6% of normal semen samples (1/22, P = 0.003). DNA from AAV helper-viruses (human papillomaviruses, cytomegalovirus) was detected at similar frequencies in normal and abnormal semen samples. In testes, AAV DNA was detected in 10 out of 38 biopsies from infertile men (26%), and in 2 out of 8 orchidectomy samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data show an increased incidence of AAV infection with abnormal semen analysis. Detection of AAV DNA in the testes might point to a role for AAV infection in male infertility, possibly by interfering with spermatozoa development.
authors.affiliation: Angewandte Tumorvirologie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erles
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thaele
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edler
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Schlehofer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001706:Biopsy; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000821:virology; D009919:Orchiectomy; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral