Pathogenesis of Viral Infections and Male Reproductive Health: An Evidence-Based Study

Viruses, being intracellular obligate parasites, can cause several congenital and sexually transmitted diseases. Depending on the site of infection, viruses can adopt various pathogenic mechanisms for their survival and to escape the host immune response. The male reproductive system is one of the attainable targets of many viruses including immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Zika virus (ZIKV), adenovirus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and infection with such viruses may cause serious health issues. Leydig cells and seminiferous tubules are the prime sites of mammalian testis for viral infection. The azoospermic condition is a common symptom of viral infection, wherein the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis can be disrupted, leading to decreased levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). Furthermore, oxidative stress (OS) is a major contributing factor to viral infection-associated male infertility. The likelihood of direct and indirect infection, as well as sex-based variability in the vulnerability pattern to viral infections, has been observed. However, there appears to be a long-term impact of viral infection on male reproductive performance due to testicular tissue pathogenicity – a process that requires thorough investigation. The present study aimed to explore how the viruses affect the male reproductive system, including their distribution in tissues and body fluids, possible targets as well as the effects on the endocrine system. We used the major electronic databases such as MEDLINE and SCOPUS. Google Scholar was also consulted for additional literature search related to the topic. Obtained literatures were sorted based on the content. The articles that reported the pathogenesis of viruses on male reproductive health and were published in the English language were included in the present study.