First case of sexually transmitted asymptomatic female genital tuberculosis from spousal epididymal tuberculosis diagnosed by active screening. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kimura, Muneyoshi; Araoka, Hideki; Baba, Hiromi; Okada, Chikako; Murase, Yoshiro; Takaki, Akiko; Mitarai, Satoshi; Yoneyama, Akiko
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 73(2018)
• Page Start: 60
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Sexual transmission -- Genital tuberculosis -- Tuberculosis -- Screening -- Epididymal tuberculosis; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.05.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: Primary female genital tuberculosis might develop after sexual intercourse with a male partner who has tuberculosis of the penis or epididymis. The possibility of sexual transmission has also been suggested by an animal model. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of active screening for an asymptomatic female sexual partner soon after the diagnosis of male genital tuberculosis has not been reported to date. This appears to be the first report on the sexual transmission of genital tuberculosis from a man to an asymptomatic woman detected by active screening for genital tuberculosis and whole genome sequencing. Abstract: Tuberculosis screening was performed for a healthy asymptomatic woman to determine whether she had been infected with active genital tuberculosis via sexual intercourse with her husband who had epididymal tuberculosis. Vaginal swab culture yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis . Furthermore, whole genome sequencing revealed that the two causative isolates were genetically identical. This appears to be the first report on the sexual transmission of genital tuberculosis from a man to an asymptomatic woman, detected by active screening for genital tuberculosis and molecular analysis, including whole genome sequencing. Active screening for genital tuberculosis in the female partner should be considered soon after diagnosis of male genital tuberculosis, even when the female partner is asymptomatic.