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 had lower urogenital Cq values than men (32.8) and women (31.9) 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. trachomatis infections potentially leading to partial immunity reducing load.
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 had lower urogenital Cq values than men (32.8) and women (31.9) 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. trachomatis infections potentially leading to partial immunity reducing load.
Authors: Ymke J Evers; Nicole H T M Dukers-Muijrers; Geneviève A F S van Liere; Jan van Bergen; Sophie Kuizenga-Wessel; Christian J P A Hoebe Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2022-04-28 Impact factor: 20.999
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Authors: Nicole H T M Dukers-Muijrers; Ymke J Evers; Christian J P A Hoebe; Petra F G Wolffs; Henry J C de Vries; Bernice Hoenderboom; Marianne A B van der Sande; Janneke Heijne; Jeffrey D Klausner; Jane S Hocking; Jan van Bergen Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2022-03-14 Impact factor: 3.090
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