Relative frequency of hepatitis B virus, human papilloma virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex viruses in the semen of fertile and infertile men in Shiraz, Iran: A cross-sectional study

Background: About ۸-۱۲% of couples on reproductive age suffers from infertility worldwide. Since ۱۹۹۳, the role of genital tract infections by microbes, including viruses that can infect the sperm, in human infertility has been proposed. Objective: To investigate the frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV), human papilloma virus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in the semen of fertile and infertile men referred to the Mother and Child Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۳۵۰ men including ۲۰۰ infertile and ۱۵۰ fertile men were included. All semen samples were allowed to liquefy, followed by the assessment of sperm parameters. DNA was extracted using a DNA extraction kit (CinaGene, Tehran, Iran) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Detection of HBV, HPV, EBV, and HSV۱/۲ was done by the PCR method. Results: The mean age of the participants was ۳۶ ± ۷ yr. Molecular results showed that ۱۶ samples (۸%) of infertile men and ۵ (۳.۳%) of fertile men were positive for HBV, which was not statistically significant (p = ۰.۰۶۹). Only one sample of the fertile participants was positive for HPV. None of the semen samples of the infertile or fertile groups was positive for the presence of EBV or HSV۱/۲. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that HBV, HPV, EBV, and HSV might not be involved in men’s infertility. Further studies are recommended for clarifying the role of these viruses in infertility.

Keywords:

Male infertility , Hepatitis B virus , Human papilloma virus , Epstein-Barr virus , Herpes simplex viruses. , ناباروری مردان , ویروس هپاتیتB , ویروس پاپیلوما , ویروس اپشتین بار , ویروس هرپس سیمپلکس.