The latest study about the effects of the Zika Virus which involved male mice revealed that the mosquito-borne disease could shrink testicles.

The experiment published in the journal Nature provides further information about the infection known to affect pregnant women resulting in several birth defects such as microcephaly or abnormally small head.  

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Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine explained the adverse effects of the infection on the fertility of men. It was observed that three weeks after the virus was introduced to the specimens, it caused shrinkage of testicles to a tenth of the normal size. Further, the virus can stay inside the testes for months until their internal structures including the Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, and primary spermatocytes are destroyed.

Professor Michael Diamond said "while our study was in mice - and with the caveat that we don't yet know whether Zika has the same effect in men - it does suggest that men might face low testosterone levels and low sperm counts after Zika infection, affecting their fertility.

Fertility doctor Kelle Moley said that "this is the only virus I know of that causes such severe symptoms of infertility. There are very few microbes that can cross the barrier that separates the testes from the bloodstream to infect the testes directly."

Zika is a member of virus family of Flaviviridae, and it causes Dengue-like symptoms. Prevention, and treatment for the infection still remain under research.