Detection of Zika Virus Replication in Human Semen by Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Targeting of Antisense Ribonucleic Acid

Abstract

Abstract Background Persistence of Zika virus (ZIKV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) in semen is common after infection. Methods We designed a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay that targets antisense ZIKV RNA (asRNA) to assess ZIKV replication competence in ZIKV RNA-positive semen samples. Results We detected ZIKV asRNA in semen of 9 of 19 men (47.4%) diagnosed with ZIKV infection. All asRNA-positive samples had high ZIKV loads (cycle threshold values <26) and were obtained within 21 days of symptom onset. Conclusions The sensitivity of the asRNA assay for detection of ZIKV replication was higher than that of conventional virus isolation methods (47.4% vs 21.1%, P = .032).