DengueDENGSPERMNCT03612609
Pilot Study to Detect DENGUE Virus in Sperm
A study testing blood, urine and semen sample in people with Dengue, run by University Hospital, Toulouse at 1 site in Reunion.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to seek the presence of dengue virus in semen, to determine its localization and to assess the efficiency of spermatozoa processing methods to obtain virus free spermatozoa. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years, men only
- Conditions the study is for
- Dengue
- What is being tested?
- blood, urine and semen sample
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 10 participants
- Where
- 1 siteReunion
- Study dates
- 6 Feb 2019to 7 Aug 2019
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Men only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Patient male aged 18 to 45 years
- Patient in acute phase of dengue virus infection and with clinical criteria (date of onset of known clinical signs) which if thet aren't specific can be highly evocative in an epidemic zone. For example: Fever, asthenia, rash, arthritis/arthralgia, myalgia, headache, conjunctivitis.
- Detection of the dengue virus genome by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in the blood or urine
- Patient who can move to the laboratory for samples
- Patient having given his free and informed consent and having signed the consent
- Patient affiliated with a social security scheme or equivalent
Who cannot join
- Patient with an ejaculation disorder or who cannot sperm collection or with a sperm volume abnormal (<1,5 ml).
- Patient under guardianship or under trusteeship
- Patient already included in a research protocol
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Pilot Study to Detect DENGUE Virus in Sperm.
The purpose of this study is to seek the presence of dengue virus in semen, to determine its localization and to assess the efficiency of spermatozoa processing methods to obtain virus free spermatozoa. This is a prospective study involving 15 patients, with acute dengue virus infection and a positive RNA detection in blood or/and urines. These results are important to understand the physiopathology of dengue virus infection and will help to counsel the infected patient in epidemic zona or returning from epidemic country. Moreover, they will help to define the management and viral safety procedures during Medically assisted Procreation in the context of dengue virus epidemic
Read the detailed description
Dengue fever is a major cause of illness and death worldwide. The disease is caused by dengue virus (DENGV) which gets transmitted to humans by the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes. The dengue virus is a flavivirus genus as for example the West Nile virus, yellow fever virus or Zika virus. In march 2018 a Dengue epidemic seems to start in La Reunion island.
dengue virus transmission occurs generally via the bite of the female mosquitoes while rare cases of non-vector transmission were reported. Only one case-report showed dengue virus in vaginal tract following dengue infection and any research was published about the links between male genital tract and dengue virus while a study revealed that 27 others viruses that can result in viremia have been found in human semen.
In this context, the purpose of this study is to seek the presence of dengue virus in semen, to determine its localization and to assess the efficiency of spermatozoa processing methods to obtain virus free spermatozoa.
This is a prospective study involving 15 patients, with acute dengue virus infection and a positive RNA detection in blood or/and urines. Men will give semen, urine and blood specimens 7 days after the beginning of clinical signs and 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after. Dengue virus RNA being diagnosed with blood and/or urine sample positive for dengue virus RNA. Dengue virus RNA will be detected in seminal plasma, native semen cells and processed spermatozoa. Semen sampling and processing will be performed within the ART laboratory of the University Hospital of La Reunion (St Pierre) and research of dengue virus RNA in the laboratory of Virology of Toulouse University Hospital. This study will identify the presence or absence of dengue virus seminal shedding, its dynamic, and in case of shedding, verify the efficiency of semen processing to obtain virus free spermatozoa.
These results are important to understand the physiopathology of dengue virus infection and will help to counsel the infected patient in epidemic zona or returning from epidemic country. Moreover, they will help to define the management and viral safety procedures during Medically assisted Procreation in the context of dengue virus epidemic.
- Conditions
- Dengue
- Being tested
- blood, urine and semen sample
- Keywords
- Dengue virus, Semen
- Medical subject headings
- Dengue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
blood, urine and semen sampleBiological
Men will give semen, urine and blood specimens 7 days after the beginning of clinical signs and 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after. Dengue virus RNA being diagnosed with blood and/or urine sample positive for dengue virus RNA. Dengue virus RNA will be detected in seminal plasma, native semen cells and processed spermatozoa.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| blood, urine and semen sample | Other | 15 patients, with acute dengue virus infection and a positive RNA detection in blood or/and urines Receives: Biological: blood, urine and semen sample |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
dengue virus genomic RNA in patient sperm
Search for presence of dengue virus genomic RNA in patients sperm when they are in the acute phase of the infection with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
Measured: 6 month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Aug 2018
- Study start6 Feb 2019
- Primary completion7 Aug 2019
- Study completion7 Aug 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for DengueStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Toulouse
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Louis Bujan, MD, Principal investigator, University Hospital, Toulouse
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03612609
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RC31/18/0133
- Other IDs
- 2018-A01195-50
- Acronym
- DENGSPERM
- Status last verified
- Aug 2019
- First submitted
- 27 Jul 2018
- Last updated
- 5 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Nedjadi T, El-Kafrawy S, Sohrab SS, Despres P, Damanhouri G, Azhar E. Tackling dengue fever: Current status and challenges. Virol J. 2015 Dec 9;12:212. doi: 10.1186/s12985-015-0444-8.
PubMed 26645066Horstick O, Martinez E, Guzman MG, Martin JL, Ranzinger SR. WHO dengue case classification 2009 and its usefulness in practice: an expert consensus in the Americas. Pathog Glob Health. 2015 Feb;109(1):19-25. doi: 10.1179/2047773215Y.0000000003. Epub 2015 Jan 28.
PubMed 25630344Horstick O, Tozan Y, Wilder-Smith A. Reviewing dengue: still a neglected tropical disease? PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Apr 30;9(4):e0003632. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003632. eCollection 2015 Apr.
PubMed 25928673Tomashek KM, Lorenzi OD, Andujar-Perez DA, Torres-Velasquez BC, Hunsperger EA, Munoz-Jordan JL, Perez-Padilla J, Rivera A, Gonzalez-Zeno GE, Sharp TM, Galloway RL, Glass Elrod M, Mathis DL, Oberste MS, Nix WA, Henderson E, McQuiston J, Singleton J, Kato C, Garcia Gubern C, Santiago-Rivera W, Cruz-Correa J, Muns-Sosa R, Ortiz-Rivera JD, Jimenez G, Galarza IE, Horiuchi K, Margolis HS, Alvarado LI. Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of dengue and other etiologic agents among patients with acute febrile illness, Puerto Rico, 2012-2015. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Sep 13;11(9):e0005859. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005859. eCollection 2017 Sep.
PubMed 28902845Chen R, Vasilakis N. Dengue--quo tu et quo vadis? Viruses. 2011 Sep;3(9):1562-608. doi: 10.3390/v3091562. Epub 2011 Sep 1.
PubMed 21994796Mons J, Mahe-Poiron D, Mansuy JM, Lheureux H, Nigon D, Moinard N, Hamdi S, Pasquier C, Dejucq-Rainsford N, Bujan L. Effects of Acute Dengue Infection on Sperm and Virus Clearance in Body Fluids of Men. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Jun;28(6):1146-1153. doi: 10.3201/eid2806.212317.
PubMed 35608553
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Pilot Study to Detect DENGUE Virus in Sperm.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03612609
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DENGSPERM / RC31/18/0133
- Conditions
- Dengue
- Keywords
- Dengue virus, Semen
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, ToulouseUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 6 Feb 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 7 Aug 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 7 Aug 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Aug 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to seek the presence of dengue virus in semen, to determine its localization and to assess the efficiency of spermatozoa processing methods to obtain virus free spermatozoa. This is a prospective study involving 15 patients, with acute dengue virus infection and a positive RNA detection in blood or/and urines. These results are important to understand the physiopathology of dengue virus infection and will help to counsel the infected patient in epidemic zona or returning from epidemic country. Moreover, they will help to define the management and viral safety procedures during Medically assisted Procreation in the context of dengue virus epidemic
Detailed description
Dengue fever is a major cause of illness and death worldwide. The disease is caused by dengue virus (DENGV) which gets transmitted to humans by the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes. The dengue virus is a flavivirus genus as for example the West Nile virus, yellow fever virus or Zika virus. In march 2018 a Dengue epidemic seems to start in La Reunion island.
dengue virus transmission occurs generally via the bite of the female mosquitoes while rare cases of non-vector transmission were reported. Only one case-report showed dengue virus in vaginal tract following dengue infection and any research was published about the links between male genital tract and dengue virus while a study revealed that 27 others viruses that can result in viremia have been found in human semen.
In this context, the purpose of this study is to seek the presence of dengue virus in semen, to determine its localization and to assess the efficiency of spermatozoa processing methods to obtain virus free spermatozoa.
This is a prospective study involving 15 patients, with acute dengue virus infection and a positive RNA detection in blood or/and urines. Men will give semen, urine and blood specimens 7 days after the beginning of clinical signs and 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after. Dengue virus RNA being diagnosed with blood and/or urine sample positive for dengue virus RNA. Dengue virus RNA will be detected in seminal plasma, native semen cells and processed spermatozoa. Semen sampling and processing will be performed within the ART laboratory of the University Hospital of La Reunion (St Pierre) and research of dengue virus RNA in the laboratory of Virology of Toulouse University Hospital. This study will identify the presence or absence of dengue virus seminal shedding, its dynamic, and in case of shedding, verify the efficiency of semen processing to obtain virus free spermatozoa.
These results are important to understand the physiopathology of dengue virus infection and will help to counsel the infected patient in epidemic zona or returning from epidemic country. Moreover, they will help to define the management and viral safety procedures during Medically assisted Procreation in the context of dengue virus epidemic.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| blood, urine and semen sample | Other | Biological: blood, urine and semen sample15 patients, with acute dengue virus infection and a positive RNA detection in blood or/and urines |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patient male aged 18 to 45 years
- Patient in acute phase of dengue virus infection and with clinical criteria (date of onset of known clinical signs) which if thet aren't specific can be highly evocative in an epidemic zone. For example: Fever, asthenia, rash, arthritis/arthralgia, myalgia, headache, conjunctivitis.
- Detection of the dengue virus genome by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in the blood or urine
- Patient who can move to the laboratory for samples
- Patient having given his free and informed consent and having signed the consent
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Patient with an ejaculation disorder or who cannot sperm collection or with a sperm volume abnormal (<1,5 ml).
- Patient under guardianship or under trusteeship
- Patient already included in a research protocol
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| blood, urine and semen sampleMen will give semen, urine and blood specimens 7 days after the beginning of clinical signs and 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after. Dengue virus RNA being diagnosed with blood and/or urine sample positive for dengue virus RNA. Dengue virus RNA will be detected in seminal plasma, native semen cells and processed spermatozoa. | Biological | blood, urine and semen sample |
Primary outcome
dengue virus genomic RNA in patient sperm
Time frame: 6 month
Search for presence of dengue virus genomic RNA in patients sperm when they are in the acute phase of the infection with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Dec 2025.
- Background: PubMed 26645066Nedjadi T, El-Kafrawy S, Sohrab SS, Despres P, Damanhouri G, Azhar E. Tackling dengue fever: Current status and challenges. Virol J. 2015 Dec 9;12:212. doi: 10.1186/s12985-015-0444-8.
- Background: PubMed 25630344Horstick O, Martinez E, Guzman MG, Martin JL, Ranzinger SR. WHO dengue case classification 2009 and its usefulness in practice: an expert consensus in the Americas. Pathog Glob Health. 2015 Feb;109(1):19-25. doi: 10.1179/2047773215Y.0000000003. Epub 2015 Jan 28.
- Background: PubMed 25928673Horstick O, Tozan Y, Wilder-Smith A. Reviewing dengue: still a neglected tropical disease? PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Apr 30;9(4):e0003632. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003632. eCollection 2015 Apr.
- Background: PubMed 28902845Tomashek KM, Lorenzi OD, Andujar-Perez DA, Torres-Velasquez BC, Hunsperger EA, Munoz-Jordan JL, Perez-Padilla J, Rivera A, Gonzalez-Zeno GE, Sharp TM, Galloway RL, Glass Elrod M, Mathis DL, Oberste MS, Nix WA, Henderson E, McQuiston J, Singleton J, Kato C, Garcia Gubern C, Santiago-Rivera W, Cruz-Correa J, Muns-Sosa R, Ortiz-Rivera JD, Jimenez G, Galarza IE, Horiuchi K, Margolis HS, Alvarado LI. Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of dengue and other etiologic agents among patients with acute febrile illness, Puerto Rico, 2012-2015. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Sep 13;11(9):e0005859. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005859. eCollection 2017 Sep.
- Background: PubMed 21994796Chen R, Vasilakis N. Dengue--quo tu et quo vadis? Viruses. 2011 Sep;3(9):1562-608. doi: 10.3390/v3091562. Epub 2011 Sep 1.
- Results publication: PubMed 35608553Mons J, Mahe-Poiron D, Mansuy JM, Lheureux H, Nigon D, Moinard N, Hamdi S, Pasquier C, Dejucq-Rainsford N, Bujan L. Effects of Acute Dengue Infection on Sperm and Virus Clearance in Body Fluids of Men. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Jun;28(6):1146-1153. doi: 10.3201/eid2806.212317.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Louis Bujan, MD principal investigator
University Hospital, Toulouse
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing blood, urine and semen sample in people with Dengue, run by University Hospital, Toulouse at 1 site in Reunion.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Reunion. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
dengue virus genomic RNA in patient sperm (time frame: 6 month). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03612609, which also lists 6 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Dec 2025.