Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports

Ebola Virus RNA in Semen from an HIV-Positive Survivor of Ebola

Lawrence J Purpura et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

Ebola virus is known to persist in semen of male survivors of Ebola virus disease (EVD). However, maximum duration of, or risk factors for, virus persistence are unknown. We report an EVD survivor with preexisting HIV infection, whose semen was positive for Ebola virus RNA 565 days after recovery from EVD.

Keywords: Ebola treatment unit; Ebola virus; Ebola virus disease; HIV; HIV/AIDS and other retroviruses; Liberia; co-infection; semen; virus RNA; viruses; zoonoses.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure
Figure
Ebola virus RNA detected by RT-PCR in semen samples from an HIV-positive survivor (48-year-old man) of Ebola virus disease, Monrovia, Liberia, 2009–2016. RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values for Ebola virus VP40 and NP gene targets are reported by days from the patient’s discharge from the ETU to collection of a semen specimen. A gene target is considered detected if the Ct is <40. If gene amplification is not demonstrated within 40 cycles, then the gene target is considered undetectable and no Ct is reported. All undetectable results are indicated as Ct values of 40. CD4 cell counts per microliter were 46 on October 20, 2009; 48 on November 12, 2009; 358 on March 25, 2010; 358 on April 22, 2010; 563 on November 22, 2010; 824 on January 22, 2013; 459 on April 24, 2014; and 529 on August 9, 2016. The patient had a CD4 cell count of 529/μL 699 days after discharge from the Ebola treatment unit. On November 12, 2009, the patient was given an ART regimen of zidovudine/lamivudine/nevirapine. On April 22, 2010, the ART regimen changed to zidovudine/lamivudine/lopinavir plus ritonavir. ART, antiretroviral therapy; Ct, cycle threshold; ETU, Ebola treatment unit; NP, nucleoprotein, RT-PCR, reverse transcription PCR; VP40; viral structural protein 40.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Mate SE, Kugelman JR, Nyenswah TG, Ladner JT, Wiley MR, Cordier-Lassalle T, et al. Molecular evidence of sexual transmission of Ebola virus. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:2448–54. 10.1056/NEJMoa1509773 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Soka MJ, Choi MJ, Baller A, White S, Rogers E, Purpura LJ, et al. Prevention of sexual transmission of Ebola in Liberia through a national semen testing and counselling programme for survivors: an analysis of Ebola virus RNA results and behavioural data. Lancet Glob Health. 2016;4:e736–43. 10.1016/S2214-109X(16)30175-9 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sissoko D, Duraffour S, Kerber R, Kolie JS, Beavogui AH, Camara AM, et al. Persistence and clearance of Ebola virus RNA from seminal fluid of Ebola virus disease survivors: a longitudinal analysis and modelling study. Lancet Glob Health. 2017;5:e80–8. 10.1016/S2214-109X(16)30243-1 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Diallo B, Sissoko D, Loman NJ, Bah HA, Bah H, Worrell MC, et al. Resurgence of Ebola virus disease in Guinea linked to a survivor with virus persistence in seminal fluid for more than 500 days. Clin Infect Dis. 2016;63:1353–6. 10.1093/cid/ciw601 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Deeks SG. HIV infection, inflammation, immunosenescence, and aging. Annu Rev Med. 2011;62:141–55. 10.1146/annurev-med-042909-093756 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources