The sac-4 gene of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and co-existing chlamydial infection. Issue 5 (1st October 2000)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Phillips, D J; Patrizio, C; Moyes, A; Young, H
• Is Part Of: Sexually transmitted infections. Volume 76:Issue 5(2000)
• Page Start: 400
• Page End: 402
• Publication Date: 2000-10-01
• Subjects: dual infection -- Neisseria gonorrhoeae -- Chlamydia trachomatis -- sac-4; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Periodicals; 616.951005
• DOI: 10.1136/sti.76.5.400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4973

Abstract

Abstract : Background/objectives: Recently, the sac-4 gene in Neisseria gonorrhoeae was postulated to increase the risk of developing mixed gonococcal and chlamydial infection. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of the sac-4 gene in a larger sample of isolates of different serovars and to assess the prevalence of sac-4 in gonococcal isolates from patients with and without coexisting chlamydial infection. Methods: Isolates from 259 episodes of gonorrhoea were tested by a PCR assay for the sac-4 gene. The presence of co-existing chlamydial infection was determined from both laboratory and GUM clinical records. Results: The overall prevalence of sac-4 was 57.5% (149/259). The prevalence was not the same in all serovars and ranged from 34.9% in serovar 1B2 to 100% in serovar 1B18. Exact logistic regression analysis indicated significant differences in sac-4 prevalence in isolates of different serovars. The prevalence of sac-4 was 69.5% (41/59) in gonococcal isolates from patients with co-existing chlamydial infection compared with 57.9% (62/107) for those without chlamydial infection. Exact logistic regression analysis showed that the slightly increased sac-4 prevalence among chlamydia positive patients (p=0.2) virtually disappeared when serovar status was taken into account (p>0.9). Conclusion: The sac-4 gene of the gonococcus does not increase the risk for mixed chlamydial infection.