Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes congenital defects. Sexual transmission of ZIKV was confirmed in a recent epidemic; however, mechanisms behind ZIKV infection and persistence in the male reproductive tract are unknown. Previously, we found that ∼33% of men with symptomatic ZIKV infections shed ZIKV RNA in semen, and some men shed ZIKV RNA for >3 months. Here, we evaluated the semen of 49 ZIKV-infected men to identify immune factors correlating with long-term ZIKV shedding in semen and ZIKV-infected cell types in semen. We found prolonged ZIKV RNA shedding in semen was associated with male reproductive tract inflammation, indicated by higher leukocyte counts and inflammatory cytokine concentrations in semen of long-term versus short-term shedders. Additionally, we found ZIKV RNA in seminal leukocytes and epithelial cells. This study of human semen from ZIKV-infected men provides critical insights into impacts of ZIKV on male reproductive tract health.

中文翻译：

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人类精液中寨卡病毒的长时间脱落与男性生殖道炎症有关

寨卡病毒 (ZIKV) 是一种蚊媒黄病毒，会导致先天性缺陷。ZIKV 的性传播在最近的一次流行中得到证实；然而，ZIKV 感染和在男性生殖道中持续存在的机制尚不清楚。此前，我们发现约 33% 的有症状 ZIKV 感染的男性会在精液中释放 ZIKV RNA，并且一些男性会释放 ZIKV RNA 超过 3 个月。在这里，我们评估了 49 名 ZIKV 感染男性的精液，以确定与精液中长期 ZIKV 脱落和精液中 ZIKV 感染细胞类型相关的免疫因素。我们发现精液中长时间的 ZIKV RNA 脱落与男性生殖道炎症有关，长期与短期脱落者的精液中白细胞计数和炎性细胞因子浓度较高表明。此外，我们在精液白细胞和上皮细胞中发现了 ZIKV RNA。这项对 ZIKV 感染男性的人类精液的研究为 ZIKV 对男性生殖道健康的影响提供了重要见解。