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Woodhall SC, Gorwitz RJ, Migchelsen SJ, Gottlieb SL, Horner PJ, Geisler WM, Winstanley C, Hufnagel K, Waterboer T, Martin DL, Huston WM, Gaydos CA, Deal C, Unemo M, Dunbar JK, Bernstein K. Advancing the public health applications of Chlamydia trachomatis serology. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018; 18:e399-e407. [PMID: 29983342 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30159-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection. Trachoma is caused by ocular infection with C trachomatis and is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. New serological assays for C trachomatis could facilitate improved understanding of C trachomatis epidemiology and prevention. C trachomatis serology offers a means of investigating the incidence of chlamydia infection and might be developed as a biomarker of scarring sequelae, such as pelvic inflammatory disease. Therefore, serological assays have potential as epidemiological tools to quantify unmet need, inform service planning, evaluate interventions including screening and treatment, and to assess new vaccine candidates. However, questions about the performance characteristics and interpretation of C trachomatis serological assays remain, which must be addressed to advance development within this field. In this Personal View, we explore the available information about C trachomatis serology and propose several priority actions. These actions involve development of target product profiles to guide assay selection and assessment across multiple applications and populations, establishment of a serum bank to facilitate assay development and evaluation, and development of technical and statistical methods for assay evaluation and analysis of serological findings. The field of C trachomatis serology will benefit from collaboration across the public health community to align technological developments with their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Woodhall
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV Service, Public Health England, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Rachel J Gorwitz
- Division of STD Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stephanie J Migchelsen
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV Service, Public Health England, London, UK; Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sami L Gottlieb
- Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patrick J Horner
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - William M Geisler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | - Katrin Hufnagel
- Division of Molecular Diagnostics of Oncogenic Infections, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tim Waterboer
- Division of Molecular Diagnostics of Oncogenic Infections, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Diana L Martin
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Wilhelmina M Huston
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Charlotte A Gaydos
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carolyn Deal
- Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - J Kevin Dunbar
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV Service, Public Health England, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kyle Bernstein
- Division of STD Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Lewis J, Price MJ, Horner PJ, White PJ. Genital Chlamydia trachomatis Infections Clear More Slowly in Men Than Women, but Are Less Likely to Become Established. J Infect Dis 2017; 216:237-244. [PMID: 28838150 PMCID: PMC5854005 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rigorous estimates for clearance rates of untreated chlamydia infections are important for understanding chlamydia epidemiology and designing control interventions, but were previously only available for women. Methods We used data from published studies of chlamydia-infected men who were retested at a later date without having received treatment. Our analysis allowed new infections to take one of 1, 2, or 3 courses, each clearing at a different rate. We determined which of these 3 models had the most empirical support. Results The best-fitting model had 2 courses of infection in men, as was previously found for women: “slow-clearing” and “fast-clearing.” Only 68% (57%–78%) (posterior median and 95% credible interval [CrI]) of incident infections in men were slow-clearing, vs 77% (69%–84%) in women. The slow clearance rate in men (based on 6 months’ follow-up) was 0.35 (.05–1.15) year-1 (posterior median and 95% CrI), corresponding to mean infection duration 2.84 (.87–18.79) years. This compares to 1.35 (1.13–1.63) years in women. Conclusions Our estimated clearance rate is slower than previously assumed. Fewer infections become established in men than women but once established, they clear more slowly. This study provides an improved description of chlamydia’s natural history to inform public health decision making. We describe how further data collection could reduce uncertainty in estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Lewis
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Modelling Methodology and Medical Research Council Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, Imperial College London School of Public Health.,Modelling and Economics Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London
| | - Malcolm J Price
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham
| | - Paddy J Horner
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J White
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Modelling Methodology and Medical Research Council Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, Imperial College London School of Public Health.,Modelling and Economics Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London
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