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Orchitis: a complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Jian Xu1, Lihua Qi, Xiaochun Chi

  • 1Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.

Biology of Reproduction
|October 21, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused orchitis, leading to widespread germ cell destruction in the testes. This immune response suggests potential long-term impacts on male reproductive function in SARS survivors.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive medicine
  • Virology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is known to affect multiple organs.
  • The impact of SARS on the male reproductive system remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the pathological changes in the testes of patients who died from SARS.
  • To determine if SARS directly affects testicular tissue and sperm production.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of testicular tissue from six deceased SARS patients.
  • Histopathological examination, including immunohistochemistry for immune cells (CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD68+ macrophages) and viral sequences (in situ hybridization).

Main Results:

  • SARS infection caused orchitis, characterized by germ cell destruction, reduced sperm presence, thickened basement membranes, and leukocyte infiltration.
  • Significant increases in T lymphocytes and macrophages were observed in the interstitial tissue.
  • No SARS viral genomic sequences were detected in testicular tissue, but abundant IgG precipitation suggested an immune-mediated response.

Conclusions:

  • Orchitis is a complication of SARS, likely caused by an immune response rather than direct viral infection.
  • Male reproductive function should be monitored in individuals who have recovered from SARS.

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