PCR-detected hepatitis C virus RNA associated with human zona-intact oocytes collected from infected women for ART.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of human oocytes from hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-positive women to HCV contamination during assisted reproductive technology (ART).


METHODS
A reverse transcriptase-PCR assay was used to test for the presence of HCV RNA associated with 24 unfertilized oocytes 48 h after follicular fluid aspiration in 10 IVF attempts (seven conventional IVF and three ICSI). Negative and positive controls (10 unfertilized oocytes from HCV-negative women and 20 unfertilized oocytes artificially contaminated with HCV RNA-positive plasma; HCV RNA was also quantified in plasma and follicular fluid) were included.


RESULTS
HCV RNA was associated with 17/24 (70.8%) oocytes (6/7 after ICSI and 11/17 after conventional IVF) and was found in 19/20 (95%) follicular fluid samples. A weak correlation was found between plasma and follicular fluid HCV RNA loads (r = 0.73, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
HCV associated with unfertilized oocytes surrounded by their intact zona pellucida from anti-HCV antibody-positive and viraemic women undergoing ART raises questions concerning the safe management of medically assisted procreation for these women and good practice of oocyte/embryo cryopreservation and donation.
Papaxanthos-Roche
A
A
Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, Maternité Pellegrin, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France. aline.papaxanthos@chu-bordeaux.fr
Trimoulet
P
P
Commenges-Ducos
M
M
Hocké
C
C
Fleury
H J A
HJ
Mayer
G
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012307:Risk Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000821:virology
D012367:RNA, Viral