Abstract
Background. The Chlamydia trachomatis bacterial load could have impact on transmission and sequelae. This is the first study providing comparison of C. trachomatis load at 3 anatomic sites estimated by cycle quantification (Cq) values.
Methods. Data from 7900 C trachomatis-positive samples were included (2012-2018). Cq value was used as an inversely proportional measure for C. trachomatis load. Multivariable linear regression analyses assessed differences in mean Cq values.
Results. Vaginal swabs had the lowest Cq values (31.0) followed by urine (32.5), anorectal swabs (34.0), and oropharyngeal swabs (36.8) (P < .001). Men and women had similar oropharyngeal (36.4 vs 37.3; P = .13) and anorectal (34.2 vs 33.9; P = .19) Cq values. Men (32.2) and women (30.7) aged = 25 years (P < .001). HIV-positive patients had higher urogenital Cq values than HIV-negative patients (33.8 vs 32.6; P < .03).
Conclusions. Men and women have a similar C. trachomatis load at extragenital locations arguing for similar transmission potential and clinical relevance. Older patients and HIV-coinfected patients had lower C. trachomatis load, suggesting exposure to previous C. trachornatis infections potentially leading to partial immunity reducing load.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1582-1589 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 223 |
Issue number | 9 |
Early online date | 16 Dec 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2021 |
Keywords
- Chlamydia
- bacterial load
- urogenital
- anorectal
- oropharyngeal
- extragenital
- REAL-TIME PCR
- NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE
- CLINICAL-FEATURES
- INFECTION
- DETERMINANTS
- CULTURE