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Prolonged Zika Virus RNA Detection in Semen of Immunosuppressed Patient - Volume 25, Number 8—August 2019 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC

Prolonged Zika Virus RNA Detection in Semen of Immunosuppressed Patient - Volume 25, Number 8—August 2019 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC

Issue Cover for Volume 25, Number 8—August 2019

Volume 25, Number 8—August 2019
Research Letter

Prolonged Zika Virus RNA Detection in Semen of Immunosuppressed Patient

Christina PetridouComments to Author , David Bonsall, Aleem Ahmed, Mark Roberts, Carolyn Bell, Mariateresa de Cesare, Rory Bowden, Victoria Graham, Daniel Bailey, Andrew Simpson, and Emma AaronsComments to Author 
Author affiliations: Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England Porton, Salisbury, UK (C. Petridou, V. Graham, D. Bailey, A. Simpson, E. Aarons)University of Oxford, Oxford, UK (D. Bonsall, M. de Cesare, R. Bowden)Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK (A. Ahmed)Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcester, UK (M. Roberts)South Warwickshire National Health System Foundation Trust, Warwick, UK (C. Bell)

Abstract

Zika virus RNA has been detected in semen samples collected <370 days after symptom onset. We report unusual persistence of Zika virus RNA in semen, confirmed by sequencing at 515 days after symptom onset and detectable for >900 days, in a patient with immunosuppression.
Detection of Zika virus RNA in semen was described previously in an immunocompetent man 370 days after symptom onset; envelope and precursor of M protein gene sequencing indicated high genetic stability in semen 3–4 months after symptom onset (1). We report detection of Zika virus RNA in semen over a longer period in a 43-year-old immunosuppressed man in the United Kingdom.
The patient has multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH), a rare rheumatologic condition, which was diagnosed in 2015. When MRH was diagnosed, the patient had multiple pruritic, firm papules and nodules on his face and neck. He also had lesions with a characteristic coral bead appearance at periungal sites. In addition, he had severe joint pain and stiffness affecting his hands and knees and drenching sweats. His MRH diagnosis was confirmed by testing of a punch biopsy of a lesion. He was HIV negative, and his immunoglobulin levels and immunoglobulin electrophoresis results were normal. He was initially treated with topical steroids and antihistamines, but he only had limited relief. He was prescribed oral steroids and required high doses to control his symptoms. Clinicians added methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine to his medications as steroid-sparing agents and to reduce the chance his MRH would progress to erosive disease.
In April 2016, seven months after starting his disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, the patient experienced fever and a new widespread maculopapular rash. He had returned to the United Kingdom from Brazil 7 days before. We detected Zika virus RNA in plasma taken 1 day after symptom onset by using real-time reverse transcription PCR methods described by Pyke et al. (2), with modifications (Appendix). We did not detect Zika virus nonstructural protein 1–specific antibodies by ELISA (EUROIMMUN, https://www.euroimmun.comExternal Link) in initial samples, but we noted seroconversion on day 13 (AppendixFigure). After diagnosing Zika virus infection, clinicians stopped the patient’s methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, but he remained on prednisolone to prevent a flare-up of his MRH (Appendix Figure). The patient’s clinical course of Zika virus infection was unremarkable.
A previous study reported that Zika virus RNA was detected in several semen samples taken within 6 months of symptom onset (3). We tested subsequent semen samples from this patient and found Zika virus RNA persisted at a viral load sufficient for sequencing 515 days after symptom onset (TableAppendix Figure). To date, Zika virus RNA remains detectable in further semen samples, although at higher cycle threshold values (Table). The patient remains asymptomatic for Zika virus infection despite persistent detection of Zika virus RNA in his semen.
We attempted viral culture on multiple semen samples, as previously described (3), but were unsuccessful (Table). We constructed sequencing libraries from total seminal plasma-extracted RNA enriched by using a panel of oligonucleotide probes, 120 nt in length, designed to capture all known Asian Zika virus strains, according to previously described methods (4). We prepared libraries for previously collected semen samples from before day 326 and sequenced these using MinION (Oxford Nanopore Technologies, https://nanoporetech.comExternal Link). We did the same for the day 515 sample and sequenced it using MiSeq (Illumina, https://www.illumina.comExternal Link). We used double indexing to prevent cross-contamination and index misassignment errors.
We also prepared 90 plasma samples from patients infected with hepatitis C, collected for a separate study, in parallel with the day 515 sample. We did this to exclude the possibility of cross-contamination from our patient’s previous samples, particularly the day 13 sample, which were shipped, prepared, and sequenced 6 months earlier. We did not detect Zika virus in any of the hepatitis C samples. We found no evidence of cross-contamination with Zika virus sequences during processing that could explain the near-whole genomes detected in the day 515 sample. Consensus sequences were consistent with all samples having come from the same patient with only 2 mutations, 1 synonymous change at codon 2921 and a K3272E substitution, acquired during the 502 days between the first and last samples sequenced (Table). We deposited sequence data in GenBank (accession nos. MH763832–3).
Counotte et al. systematically reviewed all available evidence on the risk for sexual transmission of Zika virus (5). Data from case reports, case series, cohort studies, in vitro work, and animal studies indicate that the infectious period for sexual transmission of Zika virus is considerably shorter than the period during which viral RNA can be detected in semen. As a result, the World Health Organization now recommends male travelers with potential Zika virus exposure delay conception for >3 months rather than >6 months (6).
In our case, Zika virus RNA might have persisted in semen because of failed immune clearance secondary to the patient’s MRH or his immunosuppressive drug treatment. However, when advising returning male travelers in couples planning pregnancy, clinicians should be aware that Zika virus RNA shedding in semen might be intermittent and persist for longer in patients with immunosuppression.
Dr. Petridou is an infectious diseases registrar working at the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory at Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom. Her research interest is in Zika virus infection and she previously worked as the Zika virus registrar at Porton Down.

Acknowledgment

We thank Tim Brooks, Steve Pullen, Azim Ansari, Megan MacDiarmid, and Paul Klenerman for their valuable contributions.

References

  1. Barzon  LPercivalle  EPacenti  MRovida  FZavattoni  MDel Bravo  Pet al. Virus and antibody dynamics in travelers with acute Zika virus infection. Clin Infect Dis2018;66:117380DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  2. Pyke  ATDaly  MTCameron  JNMoore  PRTaylor  CTHewitson  GRet al. Imported zika virus infection from the cook islands into australia, 2014. PLoS Curr2014;6:17DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  3. Atkinson  BThorburn  FPetridou  CBailey  DHewson  RSimpson  AJet al. Presence and persistence of Zika virus RNA in semen, United Kingdom, 2016. Emerg Infect Dis2017;23:6115DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  4. Thézé  JLi  Tdu Plessis  LBouquet  JKraemer  MUGSomasekar  Set al. Genomic epidemiology reconstructs the introduction and spread of Zika virus in Central America and Mexico. Cell Host Microbe2018;23:855864.e7DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  5. Counotte  MJKim  CRWang  JBernstein  KDeal  CDBroutet  NJNet al. Sexual transmission of Zika virus and other flaviviruses: A living systematic review. PLoS Med2018;15:e1002611DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  6. World Health Organization. WHO guidelines for the prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus: executive summary. Geneva: The Organization; 2019https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/zika/enExternal Link
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Cite This Article

DOI: 10.3201/eid2508.181543
Original Publication Date: 7/1/2019

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