Publication: In vitro study of Zika virus infection in boar semen
Issued Date
2017-10-01
Resource Type
ISSN
03048608
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85021748422
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Archives of Virology. Vol.162, No.10 (2017), 3209-3213
Suggested Citation
Natthanej Luplertlop, San Suwanmanee, Sumate Ampawong, Sompong Vongpunsawad, Yong Poovorawan In vitro study of Zika virus infection in boar semen. Archives of Virology. Vol.162, No.10 (2017), 3209-3213. doi:10.1007/s00705-017-3453-7 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/42676
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
In vitro study of Zika virus infection in boar semen
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
© 2017, Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria. Zika virus (ZIKV) is an important arbovirus that is capable of directly infecting neuronal cells. Infection can cause microcephaly in fetuses and Guillain–Barré syndrome in adults. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that ZIKV is sexually transmitted, especially from infected males to uninfected females. This study aimed to investigate the transmission pattern of ZIKV in semen using boar semen. Experiments were performed ex vivo using semen from healthy boar. The samples were infected with ZIKV, and viral RNA was detected and cell morphology was examined at different time points postinfection. ZIKV infection was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Viral RNA levels were found to markedly decrease as the time postinfection increased, without any evidence of virus replication. The sperm showed no significant changes in morphology. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of virus-free sperm, suggesting that ZIKV cannot replicate in boar semen. We suggest three possible reasons underlying this phenomenon. First, the spermatozoa of boar might not be the target of ZIKV associated with sexual transmission. Second, the effect of the external environment on spermatozoa may affect ZIKV replication. Third, ZIKV may not be tropic for spermatozoa. This ex vivo study might be used as a platform to study the association of sexual transmission with ZIKV in other longer-lasting cells, such as Leydig or Sertoli cells.