Viral infections, quality of gametes and assisted reproductive technologies: a literature review

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Active study of viruses, their transmission mechanisms, and interactions with the human body has been going on for over a century. Special attention is paid to the study of the probability of viral infection transmission from parents to offspring. In this article, we focused on the aspect of infectious safety of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), presented world literature data on the detection of hepatitis B and C viruses and human immunodeficiency virus in germ cells, seminal fluid, follicular fluid, embryos of couples in which one or both partners are infected with one of the above-mentioned infections. By now, sufficient information has been accumulated demonstrating the possibility of virus transmission through these routes, but there is still a need to continue research in this area. Important aspects include the epidemiological safety of patients and medical personnel of ART laboratories when handling the biomaterial of infected patients, the development and careful adherence to infection screening protocols, as well as quarantine of donor gametes/embryos.

Keywords:

assisted reproductive technologies (ART)

viruses

hepatitis C virus

hepatitis B virus

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

oocytes

sperm

oocyte donation

sperm donation

Authors:

Syrkasheva A.G.

Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology

ORCID: 0000-0002-7150-2230

Ermakova D.M.

Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology

ORCID: 0000-0002-8558-4687

Romanov A.Yu.

Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology

ORCID: 0000-0003-1821-8684

Dolgushina N.V.

Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology

ORCID: 0000-0003-1116-138X

Received:

22.12.2023

Accepted:

26.03.2024

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