New Evidence of Long-lasting Persistence of Ebola Virus Genetic Material in Semen of Survivors

Mamadou S Sow; Jean-François Etard; Sylvain Baize; N'Fally Magassouba; Ousmane Faye; Philippe Msellati; Abdoulaye Touré 2nd; Ibrahima Savane; Moumié Barry; Eric Delaporte; Postebogui Study Group

doi:10.1093/infdis/jiw078

New Evidence of Long-lasting Persistence of Ebola Virus Genetic Material in Semen of Survivors

J Infect Dis. 2016 Nov 15;214(10):1475-1476. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiw078. Epub 2016 May 3.

Collaborators

Postebogui Study Group:
M Barry, M Cissé, M S Diallo, S B Diallo, D Kassé, N F Magassouba, M S Sow, I Savané, L Koivugui, A Ayouba, E Delaporte, A Desclaux, J F Etard, B Granouillac, S Izard, A K Keita, S Leroy, P Msellati, M Peeters, B Taverne, A Touré, S Baize, L Abel, C Lacabaratz, C Lévy-Marchal, Y Lévy

Affiliations

¹ Infectious Diseases Department.
² IRD/UMI 233, INSERM U1175, Montpellier University, Montpellier.
³ Pasteur Institute/Unit of Biology of Emerging Viral Infections, International Center for Infectiology Research, INSERM, CNRS, Lyon I University, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France.
⁴ Projet des fièvres hémorragiques de Guinée, Donka University National Hospital, Guinea.
⁵ Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Senegal.
⁶ Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) UMI 233, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1175, Montpellier University, France.
⁷ Chaire de Santé Publique, Département de Pharmacie, Université de Conakry.
⁸ Macenta Prefectoral Hospital, Macenta, Guinea.

PMID: 27142204
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw078

Abstract

Ninety-eight semen specimens were obtained for Ebola virus (EBOV) RNA screening from 68 men in Guinea during the convalescent phase of EBOV infection. Ten samples from 8 men were positive for EBOV up to 9 months after onset of the disease, with decreasing trends in the proportion of positive samples and the level of viral RNA. Safe sex practices should be observed after discharge from treatment centers.

Keywords: Ebola virus; Guinea; outbreak; semen; survivors; virus persistence.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Ebolavirus / genetics
Ebolavirus / isolation & purification*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Guinea
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / virology*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pregnancy
RNA, Viral / analysis*
RNA, Viral / genetics
Semen / virology*
Time Factors
Young Adult

Substances

RNA, Viral