CMV and HIV Levels in Semen Are Linked

A study of 26 HIV-positive men has shown that those who had detectable cytomegalovirus in their semen, indicating an active genital tract infection, were significantly more likely to have higher levels of HIV in their semen than in their bloodstreams. Further suggesting a link between CMV and HIV levels, the CMV viral load in semen was also greater in men with high semen-based HIV levels than those who had lower levels of HIV in their semen than in their blood. Elevated HIV levels in semen increase the risk of transmitting the virus to others through sexual activity. CMV is most commonly linked with eye infections and the loss of sight in HIV-positive adults, but the researchers, who reported their findings in the January 1 edition of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, say the virus can be transmitted through sexual activity and can infect the genital tract.