Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that is common in regions with tropical climates around the world. Since it is endemic in more than one hundred countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers it one of the salient global health issues.
Most individuals infected with the dengue virus are asymptomatic or present with a mild form of the disease with signs and symptoms akin to influenza (e.g., fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, nausea, fatigue). Nonetheless, in a small number of affected people, the disease can become serious and even fatal.
But mosquitoes are not the only way how the virus can be transmitted. For example, vertical transmission from pregnant women to their fetuses has been described, which results in higher rates of preterm births and miscarriages.Furthermore, the transmission can occur via blood products, needlestick injury or blood transfusion. However, more controversial topic is potential sexual transmission that has been recently hinted in medical literature. By using this route, would the virus exert an additional impact on reproductive health?
A group of scientists, led by Dr. Joffrey Mons from the Groupe Hospitalier Sud Réunion in St. Pierre (France), aimed to address one of these pertinent questions by appraising the effects of acute dengue infection on sperm and viral clearance in body fluids of affected men.Appraising spermatozoids and hormones
In a nutshell, this prospective study shows results from a longitudinal appraisal of various biologic samples (such as whole blood, urine, and semen) and reports the characteristics of semen and reproductive hormones following the acute infection with dengue virus in men.The researchers have also documented the detection and clearance of viral genetic material in different fractions of the semen, as well as the presence of replicative virus (including in motile spermatozoids). Samples were collected 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days after disease symptoms have started in ten infected volunteers on Réunion Island.
Semen samples have been analyzed for dengue virus with the use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and also examined for dengue virus ribonucleic acid (RNA) by virus isolation in Vero E6 cell cultures established from kidney epithelial cells of the African green monkey.Lower sperm production, but no RNA in motile sperm cells
In this study, the researchers have found that sperm production in the context of dengue infection actually diminished approximately thirty days after symptom onset. Moreover, even though there were no significant disturbances in reproductive hormone levels, a substantial decrease in the testosterone/LH ratio might point to subtle dysfunction of Leydig cells found in the testes.
Written by
Dr. Tomislav Meštrović
Dr. Tomislav Meštrović is a medical doctor (MD) with a Ph.D. in biomedical and health sciences, specialist in the field of clinical microbiology, and an Assistant Professor at Croatia’s youngest university – University North. In addition to his interest in clinical, research and lecturing activities, his immense passion for medical writing and scientific communication goes back to his student days. He enjoys contributing back to the community. In his spare time, Tomislav is a movie buff and an avid traveler.
