Hepatitis C virus in the semen of men coinfected with HIV-1: prevalence and origin.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) RNA in semen from men infected with HCV and those coinfected with HIV-1/HCV and to study the origin of HCV shed in semen.


METHODS
Two prospective studies (HC EP09 and BINECO) included 120 HCV-positive men, 82 coinfected with HIV-1; all had positive HCV RNA detection in blood.


METHODS
Paired blood and semen samples were collected for HCV RNA detection and quantification in seminal plasma and in blood serum; repeated semen samples were obtained for 45 men. HCV RNA was sought in spermatozoa and non-sperm cells. Phylogenetic analysis of the HVR-1 region of HCV compared the quasispecies in blood serum and seminal plasma of two men.


RESULTS
HCV RNA was more frequently found in the semen of men coinfected with HIV-1 (37.8%) than in those with only HCV infection (18.4%) (P = 0.033). HCV RNA detection in semen was intermittent and was positive in at least one semen sample of 42.8% of HIV-1/HCV-coinfected men who provided repeated samples. Men with HCV-positive semen had significantly higher HCV load in blood than men with HCV-negative semen (P = 0.038). Phylogenetic comparison of HCV quasispecies in blood and in semen showed no evidence of HCV replication in genital leukocytes; however, a phenetic structure was observed between compartments (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
HCV particles in semen originate from passive passage from blood, with preferential transfer of some variants. Nearly half of HIV-1/HCV-coinfected men may intermittently harbour HCV in their semen. Recommendations of protected sex for HIV-infected individuals should be reinforced.
Briat
Aurélie
A
Virology Laboratory, Université René Descartes, Paris, France.
Dulioust
Emmanuel
E
Galimand
Julie
J
Fontaine
Hélène
H
Chaix
Marie-Laure
ML
Letur-Könirsch
Hélène
H
Pol
Stanislas
S
Jouannet
Pierre
P
Rouzioux
Christine
C
Leruez-Ville
Marianne
M
D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*
D012367:RNA, Viral