This is a prospective study involving 50 patients, with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and a positive RNA detection. Men will give semen, saliva, urine and blood specimens following RT-PCR diagnosis and 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after. SARS-CoV-2 RNA will be detected in seminal plasma, native semen cells and processed spermatozoa. The purpose of this study is to seek the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen, to determine its localization and infectiousness and to assess the efficiency of spermatozoa processing methods to obtain virus free spermatozoa.
Since the end of 2019, an epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 infections (COVID-19) began in China and is
now a global pandemic affecting more than 3 millions of people. Droplets and close contact
are the most common routes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and aerosol transmission may be
another route. Researchers have detected SARS-CoV-2 in samples of respiratory tract, saliva,
stool, gastrointestinal tract, urine, tears and conjunctival secretions of COVID-19 patients.
Vertical transmission from mother to infant has been suspected, but not confirmed to date.
Information about localization of SARS-CoV-2 in the genital tract or shedding is poorly
documented and the results of these studies were discrepant. One of two studies have reported
SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen from six infected patients. However, there is no data on the duration
of the seminal excretion of the virus, its viral load and infectiousness and on its
localization in semen compartments (cells, seminal plasma, spermatozoa).
The purpose of this study is to seek the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen, to determine its
localization and infectiousness and to assess the efficiency of spermatozoa processing
methods to obtain virus free spermatozoa.
This is a prospective study involving 50 patients, with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and a
positive RNA detection. Men will give semen, saliva, urine and blood specimens following
RT-PCR diagnosis and 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after. SARS-CoV-2 RNA will be detected in seminal
plasma, native semen cells and processed spermatozoa.
Biological: Sample
Men will give semen, saliva, nasopharyngeal, urine and blood specimens
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient aged 18 to 50, male.
- Patient in acute phase of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and whose RT-PCR shows the viral
genome in the nasopharyngeal or salivary sample or in any other sample.
- Patient who can come to the laboratory for samples
- Patient having given his free and informed consent and having signed the consent
- Patient affiliated to a social security scheme or equivalent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patient having previously consulted for male infertility or having previously carried
out a semen examination which was abnormal (WHO standard)
- Patient with ejaculation disorder or unable to take a semen sample or with an abnormal
semen volume (<1.5 mL).
- Patient who would present serious clinical signs that would not allow him to travel to
the investigating center to take samples.
- Patient under a protection regime for adults (including guardianship, curatorship or
safeguard of justice.
University Hospital Toulouse
Toulouse, France
Investigator: Louis BUJAN, Pr
Investigator: Louis BUJAN, PR
Louis BUJAN, PR
05 67 77 10 41 - +33
bujan.l@chu-toulouse.fr
Louis BUJAN, PR, Principal Investigator
University Hospital, Toulouse