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posted by on Sunday March 12 2017, @07:08PM   Printer-friendly
from the Global-Sterilization dept.

This from Science Advances dated 22 Feb, but just now floating to the top:
From the abstract (abridged - bold is mine)

Zika virus ... found to cause fetal infection and neonatal abnormalities, including microcephaly and neurological dysfunction. ZIKV persists in the semen months after the acute viremic phase in humans.

[...] ZIKV replication persists within the testes even after clearance from the blood, with interstitial, testosterone-producing Leydig cells supporting virus replication. We found high levels of viral RNA and antigen within the epididymal lumen, where sperm is stored, and within surrounding epithelial cells.

Unexpectedly, at 21 days post-infection, the testes of the ZIKV-infected mice were significantly smaller compared to those of mock-infected mice, indicating progressive testicular atrophy. ZIKV infection caused a reduction in serum testosterone, suggesting that male fertility can be affected. Our findings have important implications for nonvector-borne vertical transmission, as well as long-term potential reproductive deficiencies, in ZIKV-infected males.

OMG.

Full paper: http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/2/e1602899.full
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602899


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 12 2017, @09:22PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 12 2017, @09:22PM (#478204)

    Humans: Mother nature is a whore.

    Mother Nature: Humans are going extinct.