title: PCR-detected hepatitis C virus RNA associated with human zona-intact oocytes collected from infected women for ART.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, Maternité Pellegrin, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France. aline.papaxanthos@chu-bordeaux.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papaxanthos-Roche
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trimoulet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Commenges-Ducos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hocké
authors.forename: H J A
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Fleury
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral