No Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Seminal Shedding Despite SARS-CoV-2 Persistence in the Upper Respiratory Tract
Stephen A. Rawlings, Caroline Ignacio, Magali Porrachia, Pinyi Du, Davey M. Smith, Antoine Chaillon
Abstract
RNA viruses (eg, Zika, Ebola, HIV) are often shed in male genital secretions. We evaluated the presence and level of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen, nasal secretion, and saliva collected after confirmed infection. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in semen 6-17 days after the onset of symptoms despite concomitant shedding in oral secretions.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineViral sheddingSemenSalivaVirologyImmunologyPersistence (discontinuity)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Respiratory tractSex organConcomitantRespiratory systemCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)BiologyInternal medicineDiseaseVirusInfectious disease (medical specialty)AndrologyEngineeringGeotechnical engineeringGeneticsViral Infections and Outbreaks ResearchCOVID-19 Impact on ReproductionSARS-CoV-2 detection and testing