The Prevalence of HSV, HHV-6, HPV and Mycoplasma genitalium in Chlamydia trachomatis positive and Chlamydia trachomatis Negative Urogenital Samples among Young Women in Finland.

Suvi Korhonen,Matti Lehtinen,Jorma Paavonen,Tiina Eriksson,Mirja Puolakkainen,Kati Hokynar,Kari Natunen

doi:10.3390/pathogens8040276

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) cause sexually transmitted infections. In addition, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) may be a genital co-pathogen. The prevalence rates of HSV, HHV-6, HPV, M. genitalium, and the C. trachomatis ompA genotypes were investigated by PCR in urogenital samples of the C. trachomatis nucleic acid amplification test positive (n = 157) and age-, community- and time-matched negative (n = 157) women. The prevalence of HPV DNA was significantly higher among the C. trachomatis positives than the C. trachomatis negatives (66% vs. 25%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of HSV (1.9% vs. 0%), HHV-6 (11% vs. 14%), and M. genitalium DNA (4.5% vs. 1.9%) was not significantly different between the C. trachomatis-positive and -negative women. Thirteen per cent of test-of-cure specimens tested positive for C. trachomatis. The prevalence of HSV, HHV-6, HPV, M. genitalium, and the C. trachomatis ompA genotypes did not significantly differ between those who cleared the C. trachomatis infection (n = 105) and those who did not (n = 16). The higher prevalence of HPV DNA among the C. trachomatis positives suggests greater sexual activity and increased risk for sexually transmitted pathogens.

Highlights

The global disease burden due to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is substantial [1]
The prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), human papillomavirus (HPV) and M. genitalium DNA was analysed in the urogenital samples of 314 young women (157 C. trachomatis nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) positive individuals and their 157 age, community- and time-matched C. trachomatis NAAT negative controls)
DNA was frequently (46%) detected and it was more common among the C. trachomatis positives than the C. trachomatis negatives (66% vs. 25%, p < 0.001) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

The global disease burden due to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is substantial [1]. Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infection is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection with 127 million cases annually [2]. Most chlamydial infections remain asymptomatic, but can result in pelvic inflammatory disease and severe reproductive complications [3]. Based on the ompA gene encoding the major outer membrane protein (MOMP), C. trachomatis can be classified into different genotypes, of which genotypes D-K cause most of the urogenital infections [4]. Mycoplasma genitalium infection is associated with non-gonococcal and non-chlamydial urethritis in men, and with urethritis, cervicitis, endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease in women [5]. Asymptomatic infections are frequent [5]. The increasing antimicrobial resistance of M. genitalium to macrolides and fluoroquinolones causes concern [6]

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