Sonographic findings of COVID-19 related acute scrotal infection and associations with clinical-laboratory data.

BACKGROUND: During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients present to hospitals with a wide range of symptoms. Some of these symptoms include acute orchitis and epididymitis. The goal of this research is to see if COVID-19 infection and scrotal infection are associated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with a COVID-19 (+) who agreed to a scrotal ultrasound (US) examination were studied prospectively in a tertiary care center between October 2021 and February 2022. The severity of the disease was used to divide patients into groups. Patients diagnosed with acute scrotal infection based on scrotal ultrasonography findings were compared in these groups, as were their age, comorbidities, and laboratory data. RESULTS: The median age of the 213 participants was 61.7 ± 8.3. During the ultrasonographic examination of the patients, 15 (7%), 8 (3.7%), 17 (7.9%), and 40 (18.7%) were diagnosed with acute orchitis, acute epididymitis, acute epididymo-orchitis, and scrotal infection, respectively. Acute scrotal infection was far more common in patients with a higher clinical severity of the disease. The patients' comorbidities were also assessed, and it was discovered that they were statistically more common in the same group. CONCLUSIONS: Even if there are no clinical symptoms, ultrasonography can help detect acute scrotal infection in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, in groups with higher clinical severity, this association is more likely to be seen. It is critical to understand this in order to avoid complications.

COVID-19 vaccination is associated with a decreased risk of orchitis and/or epididymitis in men.

Vaccine hesitancy is a major public health obstacle to fighting the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. Due to studies that show COVID-19 infection can affect sperm parameters and lead to orchitis, the public are concerned about the effect of the COVID vaccines on male reproduction. In this study, we investigated the association between COVID-19 vaccination and risk of developing orchitis and/or epididymitis outcomes in a cohort of men using a large, US-based, electronic health record database. After balancing for confounding variables, we found that receiving at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine is associated with a decreased risk of developing orchitis and/or epididymitis.

Radiological patterns of incidental epididymitis in mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients revealed by colour Doppler ultrasound.

The testis is a potential target organ for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our study intended to investigate any testicular involvement in mild-to-moderate COVID-19 men. We conduct a cross-sectional study in 18 to 55-year-old men hospitalised for confirmed COVID-19. A senior radiologist executed the ultrasound with multi-frequency linear probe in all participants, regardless of any scrotal complaints. Exclusion criteria involved any situation that could impair testicular function. Statistical analysis compared independent groups, classified by any pathological change. Categorical and numerical outcome hypotheses were tested by Fisher's Exact and Mann-Whitney tests, using the Excel for Mac, version 16.29 (p < .05). The sample size was 26 men (mean 33.7 ± 6.2 years; range: 21-42 years), all without scrotal complaints. No orchitis was seen. Eleven men (32.6 ± 5.8 years) had epididymitis (42.3%), bilateral in 19.2%. More than half of men with epididymitis displayed epididymal head augmentation > 1.2 cm (p = .002). Two distinct epididymitis' patterns were reported: (a) disseminated micro-abscesses (n = 6) and (b) inhomogeneous echogenicity with reactional hydrocele (n = 5). Both patterns revealed increased epididymal head, augmented Doppler flow and scrotal skin thickening. The use of colour Doppler ultrasound in mild-to-moderate COVID-19 men, even in the absence of testicular complaints, might be useful to diagnose epididymitis that could elicit fertility complications.

Is there any association of COVID-19 with testicular pain and epididymo-orchitis?

AIMS: This study aims to analyse the novel Coronavirus disease- (COVID-19) related testicular pain in hospitalised patients because of COVID-19 and to review as an aetiological factor for epididymitis, orchitis or both. METHODS: A total of 91 patients were included in the study. A questionnaire was formed for the questioning of testicular pain or epididymo-orchitis in patients with COVID-19. Demographics and past medical history was also recorded. Patients' neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and D-dimer values were recorded. Patients with COVID-19 were divided into two groups according to absence or presence of testicular pain or epididymo-orchitis as group 1 and group 2. All results were compared for both groups. RESULTS: The median age of patients was similar in both groups. Testicular pain was occurred in 10.98% of the patients. Clinical presentation of epididymo-orchitis was diagnosed in only one patient. No statistically significant difference was reported in terms of patients' age, levels of CRP and D-Dimer or NLR and results of questionnaire form queries between the two groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Testicular pain was observed more frequently in hospitalised COVID-19 cases. While no inflammation marker which is related to predict of testicular pain or epididymo-orchitis was found in patients with COVID-19.

Orchiepididymitis in a Boy With COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms in children are incompletely described. We present the first case of orchiepididymitis associated with COVID-19 in a boy and discuss pathways of testicular involvement by SARS-CoV2 virus. This case underlines the need for further study of the clinical presentation of pediatric COVID-19 and the potential association with nonrespiratory symptoms.

A preliminary study on the reproductive toxicity of GS-5734 on male mice (preprint)

Background GS-5734 as a novel and promising medicine for COVID-2019, its biological impact on the mammalian reproductive system has not been systematically studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GS-5734 on sperm parameters and spermatogenesis in mice. Materials and Methods In this study, GS-5734 was synthesized according to the report. 28 adult male mice were randomly segregated into four groups (n=7 for each group). The group 1 was set as the control group, the group 1, 2, 3 and 4 were administered with GS-5734 at a daily dose of 0, 10, 50, 150 μg/mouse respectively, by intraperitoneal injection for 10 days. On the 7th day after the last injection, the testes and cauda epididymides were collected for HE staining and sperm concentration, motility, morphology analysis. Results The results indicated that after treated with GS-5734, the total sperm count and motile sperm rate showed downward trends, the abnormal sperm rate showed an increasing trend. As compared with the control group, GS-5734 at a daily dose of 150 μg/mouse caused a significant decrease in sperm concentration and motility, and a significant increased of abnormal sperm rate; the 50 μg/mouse drug treatment lead to a significant decrease in sperm motility and an increase in abnormal sperm rate. The HE staining of testicular and epididymal tissues showed that the spermatogenesis of mice was significantly deteriorated with the increasing dosage of GS-5734, especially in the 150 μg/mouse group. Conclusion Our findings suggest that a high dosage of GS-5734 may induce testicular toxicity and result in deterioration of sperm parameters in mice. More investigation on the reproductive toxicity of GS-5734 is required.