title: Sperm viral infection and male infertility: focus on HBV, HCV, HIV, HPV, HSV, HCMV, and AAV.
abstract: Chronic viral infections can infect sperm and are considered a risk factor in male infertility. Recent studies have shown that the presence of HIV, HBV or HCV in semen impairs sperm parameters, DNA integrity, and in particular reduces forward motility. In contrast, very little is known about semen infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV), herpesviruses (HSV), cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and adeno-associated virus (AAV). At present, EU directives for the viral screening of couples undergoing assisted reproduction techniques require only the evaluation of HIV, HBV, and HCV. However, growing evidence suggests that HPV, HSV, and HCMV might play a major role in male infertility and it has been demonstrated that HPV semen infection has a negative influence on sperm parameters, fertilization, and the abortion rate. Besides the risk of horizontal or vertical transmission, the negative impact of any viral sperm infection on male reproductive function seems to be dramatic. In addition, treatment with antiviral and antiretroviral therapies may further affect sperm parameters. In this review we attempted to focus on the interactions between defined sperm viral infections and their association with male fertility disorders. All viruses considered in this article have a potentially negative effect on male reproductive function and dangerous infections can be transmitted to partners and newborns. In light of this evidence, we suggest performing targeted sperm washing procedures for each sperm infection and to strongly consider screening male patients seeking fertility for HPV, HSV, and HCMV, both to avoid viral transmission and to improve assisted or even spontaneous fertility outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Section of Clinical Pathology & Unit for Human Reproduction Pathology, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35121, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garolla
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pizzol
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertoldo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menegazzo
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barzon
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foresta
mesh_terms: D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006678:HIV / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012306:Risk; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology
keywords: Ejaculate alteration; Male infertility; Sperm infection; Sperm parameters; Urogenital infections; Viral sexually transmitted disease