Transmission of Genital Herpes by Donor Insemination
- Donald E. Moore, MD;
- Rhoda L. Ashley, PhD;
- Paul W. Zarutskie, MD;
- Robert W. Coombs, MD, PhD;
- Michael R. Soules, MD;
- Lawrence Corey, MD
Abstract
This report describes a donor in a therapeutic donor insemination program who asymptomatically acquired a primary herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection from his long-standing sexual partner. His fresh semen was used to inseminate two HSV-seronegative recipients; in one a primary HSV-2 infection developed, and in one it did not. Direct evidence of transmission from donor to recipient was documented by restriction enzyme analysis of the HSV-2 isolates obtained from the donor's semen and from the recipient's cervix. Because of the possibility of asymptomatic acquisition and transmission of HSV-2, semen donors and their sexual partners should undergo serologic screening for genital herpes using new, type-specific HSV serologic techniques.
(JAMA. 1989;261:3441-3443)
Footnotes
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Reprint requests to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, RH-20, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195 (Dr Moore).
