Simian foamy virus infection in a blood donor.

BACKGROUND: Infections with simian foamy virus (SFV) are widely prevalent in nonhuman primates. SFV infection was confirmed in a worker, occupationally exposed to nonhuman primates, who donated blood after the retrospectively documented date of infection. Human-to-human transmission of SFV through transfusion and its pathogenicity have not been studied. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Recipients of blood from this donor were identified and blood samples from such recipients were tested for SFV infection by Western blot and PCR assay. RESULTS: One recipient of RBCs and another recipient of FFP had died; retroviral infections were not implicated. One platelet recipient could not be tested. Recipients of RBCs (two), a WBC-reduced RBC unit (one), and a platelet unit (one) tested SFV-negative 19 months to 7 years after transfusion. Tested recipients had transfusions 3 to 35 days after blood donation. Samples of one lot of albumin and three lots of plasma protein fraction (manufactured from recovered plasma from two donations) tested negative both for antibodies and for viral RNA. CONCLUSION: SFV transmission through transfusion was not identified among four recipients of cellular blood components from one SFV-infected donor. Derivatives containing plasma from that donor tested negative for SFV.

Typing of Chlamydia trachomatis strains from urine samples by amplification and sequencing the major outer membrane protein gene (omp1).

OBJECTIVES: To develop a novel protocol for the extraction, amplification, and sequencing of Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP gene (omp1) from urine, a non-invasive source, and apply it to an epidemiological study on the distribution of C trachomatis strains in a population of pregnant women in Thailand. METHODS: The C trachomatis DNA was extracted from culture stocks and urine using a slightly modified commercially available kit, the High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, IN, USA). The PCR and sequencing primers used for the amplification and sequencing of the omp1 were designed based on the nucleotide sequence of multiple C trachomatis strains found in GenBank. The protocol for the extraction, amplification, and sequencing was tested on laboratory culture stocks of reference strains of all C trachomatis serovars and on urine samples collected in a cross sectional study designed to assess the prevalence of C trachomatis infections in the cities of Bangkok and Chiang Rai, Thailand. RESULTS: The omp1 gene was successfully amplified and sequenced from 18 laboratory C trachomatis reference strains and from 45 C trachomatis positive urine clinical samples collected from asymptomatic pregnant women. Among clinical samples, we found nine different C trachomatis genotypes: F (11, 25%), D (10, 22.6%), H (5, 11.7%), K (5, 11.7%), E (4, 9.3%), Ia (3, 7%), B (3, 7%), Ja (2, 4.5%), and G (1, 2.3%). One specimen generated an omp1 DNA sequence pattern indicating the presence of a mixed infection with at least two different serovars. CONCLUSIONS: Urine is a convenient and reliable source for genotyping C trachomatis strains. A clear advantage of urine over traditional samples, such as cervical swabs, is that urine is a non-invasive source which makes collection easier and thus facilitates the enrolment of patients in clinical and epidemiological studies. In addition to typing, urine is increasingly used for diagnosis of C trachomatis infection by several commercially available nucleic acid amplification assays which represents a distinct advantage for collecting, transport, storage, and laboratory handling of samples.

Multiple drug-resistant Chlamydia trachomatis associated with clinical treatment failure.

In vitro susceptibility testing and genotyping were done on urogenital isolates of Chlamydia trachomatis from 3 patients, 2 of whom showed evidence of clinical treatment failure with azithromycin and one of whom was the wife of a patient. All 3 isolates demonstrated multidrug resistance to doxycycline, azithromycin, and ofloxacin at concentrations >4.0 microg/mL. Recurrent disease due to relapsing infection with the same resistant isolate was documented on the basis of identical genotypes of both organisms. This first report of clinically significant multidrug-resistant C. trachomatis causing relapsing or persistent infection may portend an emerging problem to clinicians and public health officials.

Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection by ligase chain reaction testing of urine among adolescent women with and without Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Culture, the conventional method for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, requires invasive sampling and stringent specimen transport conditions. The recently developed ligase chain reaction test (LCR; Abbott Laboratories; North Chicago, IL) allows noninvasive sampling and stable transport conditions, but has not been evaluated with specimens from adolescent populations. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To perform a comparative evaluation of a commercial LCR test and culture for the diagnosis of N. gonorrhoeae in adolescent women. STUDY DESIGN: Urine and endocervical swab specimens from 330 teenage women seen in two public health adolescent clinics were tested by LCR and culture. For resolution of discordant results, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was developed that directly amplifies N. gonorrhoeae DNA from urine samples processed for LCR. RESULTS: Thirty-one of 330 (9.4%) cervical specimens were culture-positive for N. gonorrhoeae, and 30 of 330 (9.1%) urine specimens were positive by LCR. After resolution of 13 discordant results, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of LCR for urine were 88.2%, 100%, 100%, 98.7%, respectively, and for culture of endocervical specimens were 82.3%, 98.9%, 90.3% and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although more expensive than culture, LCR offers a sensitive means for the detection of N. gonorrhoeae in urine samples and may be useful for this purpose in settings where pelvic examinations are difficult to perform and simultaneous detection of N. gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis is advantageous.

Susceptibilities of Chlamydia trachomatis isolates causing uncomplicated female genital tract infections and pelvic inflammatory disease.

The in vitro susceptibilities of 45 recent clinical isolates of Chlamydia trachomatis obtained from women with asymptomatic genital tract infection, mucopurulent cervicitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease to doxycycline, azithromycin, ofloxacin, and clindamycin were determined. In addition, susceptibilities of 12 isolates to amoxicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were also determined. Isolates also were serotyped with a panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for chlamydial major outer membrane protein; 24 of 45 (53%) belonged to serovars Ia and E. For all isolates, the MIC range of doxycycline was 0.008 to 0.06 micrograms/ml, for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole it was 0.03 to 0.25 micrograms/ml, for azithromycin it was 0.125 to 2.0 micrograms/ml, for ofloxacin it was 0.5 to 1.0 micrograms/ml, for clindamycin it was 0.25 to 2.0 micrograms/ml, and for amoxicillin it was 0.25 to 4.0 microgram/ml. The ranges of minimum chlamydiacidal concentrations were generally 1 to 4 dilutions above the MICs of most agents, with a rank order similar to those of the MICs. Comparing the minimum chlamydiacidal concentrations for 90% of isolates tested, isolates causing asymptomatic infection belonged to a greater variety of serovars and were relatively more susceptible to doxycycline and azithromycin than isolates causing mucopurulent cervicitis or pelvic inflammatory disease; these differences in susceptibility were not detected among the other study agents. These data indicate that additional studies are needed to better define the apparent association of certain chlamydial serovars with the clinical severity of disease and the in vitro susceptibilities to certain antimicrobial agents.

Preventing IUCD-related pelvic infection: the efficacy of prophylactic doxycycline at insertion.

Most of the small increased risk in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) associated with the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) appears to be caused by bacterial contamination of the endometrial cavity at the time of insertion. This randomized clinical trial of 1813 women in Nairobi, Kenya, assessed the effectiveness of 200 mg of doxycycline given orally at the time of insertion in reducing the occurrence of PID. The rate of this infection in the doxycycline-treated group was 31% lower than that in the placebo-treated group (1.3 and 1.9%, respectively; RR 0.69; 95% CI 0.32 to 1.5). The rate of an unplanned IUCD-related visit to the clinic was also 31% lower in the doxycycline-treated group (RR 0.69; 95% CI 0.52 to 0.91). Although the significance level (P = 0.17) for the reduction is PID does not meet the conventional standard of 0.05, the results may be suggestive of an effect. Moreover, the reduction in IUCD-related visits (P = 0.004) not only represents an important decrease in morbidity but also substantiates the reduction found for PID. Further studies are needed to corroborate these results. Consideration should be given to the prophylactic use of doxycycline at the time of IUCD insertion as an approach to preventing PID and other IUCD-related morbidity.

PIP: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted to investigate whether the use of prophylactic doxycycline at intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) insertion can reduce the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. 1813 women in Nairobi, Kenya, were given 200 mg of doxycycline, taken orally at the time of IUCD insertion. Analysis of the data collected show that the rate of PID infection in the doxycycline-treated group was 31% lower than that in the placebo-treated group. The rate of an unplanned IUCD-related visit to the clinic was also 31% lower in the doxycycline-treated group. Although the significance level (P = 0.17) for the reduction in PID does not meet the conventional standard of 0.05, the results may be suggestive of an effect. In addition, the reduction in IUCD-related visits (P = 0.004) not only represents an important decrease in morbidity, but also substantiates the reduction found for PID. To conclude, the prophylactic use of doxycycline at the time of IUCD insertion appears effective, well tolerated, and cost-effective. Further studies are needed to corroborate these results and consideration should be given to the prophylactic use of doxycycline at the time of IUCD insertion as an approach in preventing PID and other IUCD-related morbidity.

Isolation of Chlamydia Trachomatis from fallopian tubes of healthy women undergoing tubal sterilisation by minlaparotomy in Kenya.

A prospective study of 47 healthy women undergoing tubal sterilisation for contraception was undertaken to find out the rate of isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from fallopian tubes of these individuals. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from the tubes in 7 (14.9%) out of 47 of them. The possible role of this pathogen in the aetiology of salpingitis in our population is discussed.

The prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoea and Chlamydia trachomatis in intra-uterine contraceptive acceptors in Kenya.

PIP: The 1725 women presenting at Kenyatta National Hospital in 1984-86 for IUD insertion were screened for cervical Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea before the IUD insertion. 207 (12%) cases of chlamydia trachomatis and 61 (3.5%) cases of Neisseria gonorrhoea were detected. There was no association between the ages of the women and the prevalence of these 2 sexually transmitted pathogens; however, there was a significant relationship between the prevalence of N gonorrhoea and marital status. N gonorrhoea was detected in 6.2% of never-married and 5.2% of formerly married women compared with 2.3% of currently married subjects (p0.001). Although there was no significant relationship between parity and the rate of isolation of the 2 pathogens, infection tended to be lower in women with 5 or more children. Educational attainment was significantly associated with N gonorrhoea infection: 5.1% in women who had 0-7 years of schooling compared with 3.0% in those with 8 or more years of education (p0.05). 12 women with C trachomatis infection were also positive for N gonorrhoea. There was no significant relationship between C trachomatis infection and any of the demographic variables examined. Given the finding that the greatest risk of pelvic inflammatory disease occurs in the 1st month of IUD use, it can be speculated that pathogens are inserted into the uterine cavity at the time of IUD insertion. It is therefore recommended that clients--especially the unmarried, the formerly unmarried, and those with low levels of education--be screened and treated for N gonorrhoea and C trachomatis before an IUD is inserted.^ieng

Postpartum upper genital tract infections in Nairobi, Kenya: epidemiology, etiology, and risk factors.

We investigated the frequency of clinically defined upper genital tract infection (UGTI) and its relation to sexually transmitted diseases and other risk factors among 1,013 women initially studied while in labor at a Nairobi, Kenya maternity hospital. Women were enrolled during labor and followed up at seven days and one month postpartum. Cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis were done at enrollment and at day 7. The prevalence of gonococcal and chlamydial infections was 6.7% and 20.8%, respectively. The overall prevalence of UGTI was 20.3%. The development of UGTI was significantly correlated with gonococcal infection (odds ratio, 4.4; P less than .0001), chlamydial infection (odds ratio, 1.7; P less than .02), presence of ophthalmia neonatorum (odds ratio, 2.6; P less than .0001), labor greater than 12 hr (odds ratio, 1.8; P less than .01), and area of residence (odds ratio, 1.5; P less than .05). Postpartum UGTI, an enormous public health problem in Nairobi, would be partially susceptible to antenatal intervention programs focusing on sexually transmitted diseases.

Epidemiology of ophthalmia neonatorum in Kenya.

In a Nairobi hospital where ocular prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum has been discontinued, 1,019 women were screened for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis during labour and 7 and 28 days postpartum. The prevalence of gonococcal infection was 7% and that of chlamydial was 29%. 52.4% of gonococcal isolates produced penicillinase. The incidence of ophthalmia neonatorum was 23.2 per 100 live births, and incidences of gonococcal and chlamydial ophthalmia were 3.6 and 8.1 per 100 live births, respectively. Of 181 cases of neonatal conjunctivitis, 31% were caused by C trachomatis, 12% by N gonorrhoeae, and 3% by both. In 67 babies exposed to maternal gonococcal infection and 201 exposed to maternal chlamydial infection, rates of transmission to the eye were 42% and 31%, respectively, and to the throat were 7% and 2%. Gonococcal transmission rate was higher in mothers with concomitant chlamydial infection (68%; p = 0.01). Postpartum endometritis was associated with ophthalmia neonatorum (p less than 0.001). Ocular prophylaxis at birth for gonococcal ophthalmia should be reintroduced.