Biology

Sperm

Virology

Flavivirus

Immunology

Genetics

Prostatitis

Epididymis

Internal medicine

Zika virus

Prostate

Andrology

Medicine

Virus

Genitourinary system

Cancer

Sex organ

Nature Reviews Urology

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging mosquito-transmitted flavivirus associated with congenital abnormalities in newborns and with Guillain–Barré syndrome in adults. The virus can also be sexually transmitted and can persist in the male genital tract. Studies evaluating the kinetics of ZIKV in seminal shedding of men who have been infected, as well as in animal and cellular models of infection, have shown that, in addition to the testis and epididymis, the prostate and seminal vesicles could also be involved in persistent ZIKV infection. Additionally, some studies have reported that men infected with ZIKV can present with genitourinary symptoms such as haematospermia, prostatitis, painful ejaculation, penile discharge, and oligospermia; however, little is known about the effect of ZIKV on fertility. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie persistent ZIKV infections in men is crucial to developing guidelines, effective vaccines, and therapies. The re-emerging mosquito-transmitted flavivirus Zika seems to be sexually transmitted and can persist in the male genital tract, presenting as genitourinary symptoms such as haematospermia, prostatitis, painful ejaculation, penile discharge, and oligospermia. In this Review, the authors explain the mechanisms that underlie persistent Zika infections in men and describe why these are crucial to developing guidelines, effective vaccines, and therapies.

Persistence and clinical relevance of Zika virus in the male genital tract