Cervicovaginal coinfections with human papillomavirus and chlamydia trachomatis

• Published in: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease 2002-08, Vol.43 (4), p.277-281
• Main Authors: Tamim, Hala, Finan, Ramzi R., Sharida, Huda E., Rashid, Mooza, Almawi, Wassim Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the genital system; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - microbiology; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - virology; Cervix Uteri - microbiology; Cervix Uteri - virology; Chlamydia Infections - complications; Chlamydia Infections - microbiology; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia trachomatis - genetics; Chlamydia trachomatis - isolation & purification; DNA; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Viral - analysis; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Human Papillomavirus; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Papillomaviridae - classification; Papillomaviridae - genetics; Papillomaviridae - isolation & purification; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Risk Factors; Tumor Virus Infections - complications; Tumor Virus Infections - virology; Tumors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - microbiology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - virology; Vagina - microbiology; Vagina - virology; Viruses
• ISSN: 0732-8893; 1879-0070
• DOI: 10.1016/S0732-8893(02)00403-0

Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) are the two most common sexually transmitted pathogens, and infection with either reportedly was associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in women. In view of their similar mode of transmission, CT infection was examined as a possible HPV cofactor in the etiology of CIN disease. In total, 129 women were included in the study, of whom 80 were negative (mean age 34.17 ± 6.9) and 49 were positive (mean age 33.16 ± 6.8) for HPV DNA (assessed by PCR). CT DNA was determined in endocervical and first-catch urine specimens by PCR. Whereas HPV-positive and HPV-negative women were similar with respect to age ( p = 0.419) and pregnancy outcomes ( p = 0.628), the number of smokers ( p = 0.001), women with multiple male sex partners ( p = 0.002) or with abnormal cytology ( p < 0.001) was higher in the HPV-positive group. There was an increase in CT infection rate in HPV-positive (29/49) as compared to HPV-negative (10/80) women ( p < 0.01). Within HPV-positive patients, there was no significant difference between CT-positive and CT-negative patients with regards to the risk factors studied. Collectively, this suggests that CT infection is a cofactor of HPV in CIN disease development, possibly by modulating the host’s immunity and/or precipitation of chronic inflammation.