HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS DNA IS PRESENT IN CD45(+) CELLS IN SEMEN FROM HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED PATIENTS

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was detected and quantitated in both blood and semen cells from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men with 100-800 CD4 cell counts/mm(3). None of the 35 patients studied had demonstrable CMV DNA in mononuclear cells isolated from blood. Blood samples from 8 of these patients were cultured for CMV and found to be negative. About 30% of HIV-seropositive patients in the study group had > 100 copies of CMV in semen (range, > 100 to > 10(6); mean, similar to 100,000). Persistent CMV infection was detected for > 8 months in some patients with no obvious signs or symptoms of CMV disease. The CMV-infected cell in semen was CD45(+) and probably had Fc receptors. Mature spermatozoa were not a major reservoir of CMV infection.