J D Ross1, A Moyes, H Young. 1. Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the host immune response to gonorrhoea provides limited serovar specific protection from reinfection. SUBJECTS: 508 episodes of gonorrhoea diagnosed at a city centre genitourinary medicine clinic including 22 patients with multiple infections over a 4 year period. METHODS: Patients with recurrent gonococcal infection were analysed with respect to the initial and subsequent serovars isolated. RESULTS: No significant difference was seen in the prevalence of serovars isolated following a repeat infection compared with those without repeat infections. The site of the initial infection did not appear to influence the subsequent serovar isolated. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence of serovar specific immunity in our population. It remains possible that populations with a higher prevalence of gonorrhoea and more frequent infections may have a quantitatively greater immune response.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the host immune response to gonorrhoea provides limited serovar specific protection from reinfection. SUBJECTS: 508 episodes of gonorrhoea diagnosed at a city centre genitourinary medicine clinic including 22 patients with multiple infections over a 4 year period. METHODS:Patients with recurrent gonococcal infection were analysed with respect to the initial and subsequent serovars isolated. RESULTS: No significant difference was seen in the prevalence of serovars isolated following a repeat infection compared with those without repeat infections. The site of the initial infection did not appear to influence the subsequent serovar isolated. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence of serovar specific immunity in our population. It remains possible that populations with a higher prevalence of gonorrhoea and more frequent infections may have a quantitatively greater immune response.
Authors: David P Wilson; Kate L Seib; Andrew P Craig; Richard T Gray; Jennifer L Edwards; Michael A Apicella; Michael P Jennings Journal: Vaccine Date: 2015-07-17 Impact factor: 3.641