Abstract
In recent years the incidence of male infertility has increased. Many risk factors have been taken into consideration, including viral infections. Investigations into viral agents and male infertility have mainly been focused on human papillomaviruses, while no reports have been published on polyomaviruses and male infertility. The aim of this study was to verify whether JC virus and BK virus are associated with male infertility. Matched semen and urine samples from 106 infertile males and 100 fertile males, as controls, were analyzed. Specific PCR analyses were carried out to detect and quantify large T (Tag) coding sequences of JCV and BKV. DNA sequencing, carried out in Tag JCV-positive samples, was addressed to viral protein 1 (VP1) coding sequences. The prevalence of JCV Tag sequences in semen and urine samples from infertile males was 34% (72/212), whereas the BKV prevalence was 0.94% (2/212). Specifically, JCV Tag sequences were detected in 24.5% (26/106) of semen and 43.4% (46/106) of urine samples from infertile men. In semen and urine samples from controls the prevalence was 11% and 28%, respectively. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in JCV prevalence was disclosed in semen and urine samples of cases vs. controls. A higher JC viral DNA load was detected in samples from infertile males than in controls. In samples from infertile males the JC virus type 2 strain, subtype 2b, was more prevalent than ubiquitous type 1. JCV type 2 strain infection has been found to be associated with male infertility. These data suggest that the JC virus should be taken into consideration as an infectious agent which is responsible for male infertility.
Highlights
Transmitted infectious agents are considered to be one of the main cause of human infertility
Recent investigations on the putative role of viral agents in infertility and reproduction defects/pathologies have been primarily focused on human papillomaviruses (HPV)
BKV was isolated from the urine of a kidneytransplanted patient, while JCV was detected in the brain sample of a patient affected by progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare demyelinating disease associated with impaired immunity [9]
Summary
Transmitted infectious agents are considered to be one of the main cause of human infertility. BKV and JCV infections are associated with haemorrhagic cystitis, and chronic meningoencephalitis, respectively. BKV and JCV sequences have been detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), suggesting that infection of blood cells may represent the route by which the virus is spread from the portal of entry to other tissues in the infected host [9]. JCV DNA has been revealed in the gastrointestinal tract, whereas BKV and JCV DNA sequences and virions have been detected in raw urban sewage [11,12] These data suggest that the oral-fecal route is a mode of transmission for these viral agents. The presence of BKV and JCV footprints in PBMC, prostate, uterus, kidney, stool, urine and sperm samples points to haematic, oral-fecal, urine and sexual routes as possible means of polyomavirus transmission in humans [9,10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
