title: Persistence of Zika virus in semen 93 days after the onset of symptoms.
abstract: Zika virus is mainly transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, although mother-to-child and sexual transmission have also been described. The presence of Zika virus in semen after infection seems to be not uncommon, but the duration of viral persistence has not been well-determined.
  
  
  
  Molecular, serological and cell culture methods were used for the diagnosis and follow up of a case of Zika virus infection imported from Venezuela. Serial samples of serum, urine and semen were analyzed to investigate the persistence of the Zika virus.
  
  
  
  Zika virus was detected in semen samples up to 93 days after the onset of symptoms.
  
  
  
  Our results confirm the persistence of Zika virus in semen samples for long periods after infection.
authors.affiliation: ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Tropical Medicine and International Health Department, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oliveira Souto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic, c/ Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Izaskun
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alejo-Cancho
authors.affiliation: ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Tropical Medicine and International Health Department, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gascón Brustenga
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic, c/ Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peiró Mestres
authors.affiliation: ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Tropical Medicine and International Health Department, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muñoz Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Tropical Medicine and International Health Department, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic, c/ Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: myoldi@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Miguel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martínez Yoldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014687:Venezuela; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Persistence; Persistencia; Semen; Virus Zika; Zika virus