Purpose Due to relevant repercussions on reproductive medicine, we aimed to evaluate feasibility of RT-PCR as a detection method of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in seminal fluid. Methods A qualitative determination of the RT-PCR assays in semen was performed through different approaches: (1) efficiency of RNA extraction from sperm and seminal plasma was determined using PRM1 and PRM2 mRNA and a heterologous system as control; (2) samples obtained by diluting viral preparation from a SARS-CoV-2 panel (virus cultured in Vero E6 cell lines) were tested; (3) viral presence in different fractions of seminal fluid (whole sample, seminal plasma and post-centrifugation pellet) was evaluated. Semen samples from mild and recovered COVID-19 subjects were collected by patients referring to the Infectious Disease Department of the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital - "Sapienza" University of Rome. Control subjects were recruited at the Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini'' of the same hospital. Results The control panel using viral preparations diluted in saline and seminal fluid showed the capability to detect viral RNA presence with C-t values depending on the initial viral concentration. All tested semen samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2, regardless of the nasopharyngeal swab result or seminal fluid fraction. Conclusion These preliminary data show that RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing appears to be a feasible method for the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid, supported by results of the control panel. The ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in semen is extremely important for reproductive medicine, especially in assisted reproductive technology and sperm cryopreservation.

Molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid / Paoli, D; Pallotti, F; Nigro, G; Mazzuti, L; Hirsch, M N; Valli, M B; Colangelo, S; Mastroianni, C M; Antonelli, G; Lenzi, A; Turriziani, O; Lombardo, F. - In: JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. - ISSN 1720-8386. - (2021), pp. 1-10. [10.1007/s40618-021-01580-x]

Molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid

Paoli, D
Co-primo
;
Pallotti, F
Co-primo
;
Nigro, G;Mazzuti, L;Hirsch, M N;Mastroianni, C M;Antonelli, G;Lenzi, A;Turriziani, O;Lombardo, F
2021

Abstract

Purpose Due to relevant repercussions on reproductive medicine, we aimed to evaluate feasibility of RT-PCR as a detection method of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in seminal fluid. Methods A qualitative determination of the RT-PCR assays in semen was performed through different approaches: (1) efficiency of RNA extraction from sperm and seminal plasma was determined using PRM1 and PRM2 mRNA and a heterologous system as control; (2) samples obtained by diluting viral preparation from a SARS-CoV-2 panel (virus cultured in Vero E6 cell lines) were tested; (3) viral presence in different fractions of seminal fluid (whole sample, seminal plasma and post-centrifugation pellet) was evaluated. Semen samples from mild and recovered COVID-19 subjects were collected by patients referring to the Infectious Disease Department of the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital - "Sapienza" University of Rome. Control subjects were recruited at the Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini'' of the same hospital. Results The control panel using viral preparations diluted in saline and seminal fluid showed the capability to detect viral RNA presence with C-t values depending on the initial viral concentration. All tested semen samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2, regardless of the nasopharyngeal swab result or seminal fluid fraction. Conclusion These preliminary data show that RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing appears to be a feasible method for the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid, supported by results of the control panel. The ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in semen is extremely important for reproductive medicine, especially in assisted reproductive technology and sperm cryopreservation.
2021
COVID-19; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; seminal fluid
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid / Paoli, D; Pallotti, F; Nigro, G; Mazzuti, L; Hirsch, M N; Valli, M B; Colangelo, S; Mastroianni, C M; Antonelli, G; Lenzi, A; Turriziani, O; Lombardo, F. - In: JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. - ISSN 1720-8386. - (2021), pp. 1-10. [10.1007/s40618-021-01580-x]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1549418
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