Transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae among men with urethritis and their female sex partners

J Infect Dis. 1998 Dec;178(6):1707-12. doi: 10.1086/314485.

Abstract

Transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae among infected men and their female sex partners was examined using a design enhancing the likelihood that spread was directed from men to women. Chlamydia culture-negative specimens were examined using DNA amplification tests. Infection rates in women exposed to male sex partners with Chlamydia only were 65% (20/31) and with gonorrhea only were 73% (33/45). Infection of women by either agent was not influenced by the number of sexual exposures to or coinfection in men. There was a 98% (40/41) concordance of N. gonorrhoeae isolates among partners by auxotype and serovar. Chlamydia isolates were serotyped using ELISA and immunofluorescence testing and confirmed by nested polymerase chain reaction: 50% (6/12) of men and 57% (8/14) of women yielded mixed serovars. Sixty-four percent of pairs (9/14) were infected with identical serovars and an additional 28% shared at least one serovar. Multiple serovars of C. trachomatis, but not of N. gonorrhoeae, were common in sex partners and exchanged frequently.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Boston / epidemiology
  • Chlamydia Infections / complications
  • Chlamydia Infections / transmission*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis* / genetics
  • Chlamydia trachomatis* / isolation & purification
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification
  • Gonorrhea / complications
  • Gonorrhea / epidemiology
  • Gonorrhea / transmission*
  • Heterosexuality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / genetics
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / isolation & purification
  • Prevalence
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / microbiology*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / transmission*
  • Urethra / microbiology
  • Urethritis / complications
  • Urethritis / epidemiology
  • Urethritis / microbiology*