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Lovett A, Seña AC, Macintyre AN, Sempowski GD, Duncan JA, Waltmann A. Cervicovaginal Microbiota Predicts Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Presentation. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:790531. [PMID: 35222300 PMCID: PMC8867028 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.790531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection of the female lower genital tract can present with a spectrum of phenotypes ranging from asymptomatic carriage to symptomatic cervical inflammation, or cervicitis. The factors that contribute to the development of asymptomatic or symptomatic infections are largely uncharacterized. We conducted a pilot study to assess differences in the cervicovaginal microbial community of patients presenting with symptomatic vs. asymptomatic N. gonorrhoeae infections to a sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic. DNA was isolated from cervicovaginal swab specimens from women who tested positive for N. gonorrhoeae infection using a clinical diagnostic nucleic acid amplification test. We performed deep sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons, followed by microbiome analyses with QIIME, and species-specific real-time PCR to assess the composition of microbial communities cohabitating the lower genital tract with the infecting N. gonorrhoeae. Specimens collected from asymptomatic individuals with N. gonorrhoeae infection and no co-infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Trichomonas vaginalis carried Lactobacillus-dominant microbial communities more frequently than symptomatic patients without co-infection. When compared to asymptomatic individuals, symptomatic women had microbial communities characterized by more diverse and heterogenous bacterial taxa, typically associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) [Prevotella, Sneathia, Mycoplasma hominis, and Bacterial Vaginosis-Associated Bacterium-1 (BVAB1)/"Candidatus Lachnocurva vaginae"]. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic N. gonorrhoeae patients with additional STI co-infection displayed a BV-like microbial community. These findings suggest that Lactobacillus-dominant vaginal microbial community may protect individuals from developing symptoms during lower genital tract infection with N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lovett
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Arlene C. Seña
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Andrew N. Macintyre
- School of Medicine and Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Gregory D. Sempowski
- School of Medicine and Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Joseph A. Duncan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Andreea Waltmann
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Andreea Waltmann,
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Hazel A, Meeks G, Bharti N, Jakurama J, Matundu J, Jones JH. Opportunities and constraints in women's resource security amid climate change: A case study of arid-living Namibian agro-pastoralists. Am J Hum Biol 2021; 33:e23633. [PMID: 34181282 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We describe the composition and variation of women's resource strategies in an arid-living Southern African agro-pastoralist society to gain insights into adaptation to climate-change-induced increased aridity. METHODS Using cross-sectional data from 210 women collected in 2009 across 28 agro-pastoralist villages in Kaokoveld Namibia, we conducted principal-component (PC) analysis of resource variables and constructed profiles of resource strategies from the major PCs. Next, we explored associations between key resource strategies and demographic measures and fitness proxies. RESULTS The first two PCs accounted for 43% of women's overall resource variation. PC1 reflects women's ability to access market resources via livestock trading, while PC2 captured women's direct food access. We found that market strategies were more common among married women and less common among women who have experienced child mortality. Women with higher subsistence security were more likely to be from the OvaHimba tribe and had a higher risk of gonorrhea exposure. We also qualitatively explored drought-induced pressure on women's livestock. Finally, we show that sexual networks were attenuated during drought, indicating strain on social support. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight how agro-pastoralist women manage critical resources in unpredictable environments, and how resource strategies distribute among the women in our study. Goats as a commodity to obtain critical resources suggests that some women have flexibility during drought when gardens fail and cattle die. However, increased aridity and drought may eventually overwhelm husbandry practices in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Hazel
- Department of Earth System Science, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Gillian Meeks
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Program in Integrative Genetics and Genomics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Nita Bharti
- Department of Biology, The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - James Holland Jones
- Department of Earth System Science, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Han Y, Yin Y, Dai X, Chen S, Yang L, Zhu B, Zhong N, Cao W, Zhang X, Wu Z, Yuan L, Zheng Z, Feng L, Liu J, Chen X. Widespread Use of High-dose Ceftriaxone Therapy for Uncomplicated Gonorrhea Without Reported Ceftriaxone Treatment Failure: Results From 5 Years of Multicenter Surveillance Data in China. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 70:99-105. [PMID: 30838398 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial resistance to Neisseria gonorrhoeae has emerged for each of the antibiotics recommended as first-line therapies following their introduction into clinical practice. To improve rational and effective clinical antibiotic treatment, we analyzed the prescription patterns of antibiotics and their therapeutic effect in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea in China. METHODS We obtained data from a follow-up multicenter surveillance program. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the associations between demographic/clinical variables with the levels of sensitivity to ceftriaxone and prescription of high-dose ceftriaxone. RESULTS In this study, 1686 patients infected with N. gonorrhoeae were recruited in a surveillance network during 1 January 2013 through 31 December 2017 in 7 hospitals distributed in 5 provinces. The prevalence of isolates with decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone was 9.8% (131/1333), fluctuating between 5.6% and 12.1%. Injectable ceftriaxone was chosen as the first-line treatment among 83.1% of patients, and most of them (72.7% [1018/1401]) received >1000 mg dosage. Patients who were previously infected with gonorrhea or other sexually transmitted infections (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.618 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.11-2.358]; AOR, 2.08 [95% CI, 1.41-3.069]) or who already used antibiotics for this infection (AOR, 1.599 [95% CI, 1.041-2.454]) were associated with a higher prescribed ceftriaxone dosage. All of the patients recruited in this study were cured regardless of the isolates' susceptibility to ceftriaxone or the dosage of ceftriaxone they received. CONCLUSIONS No ceftriaxone treatment failure for uncomplicated gonorrhea was reported in China; however, high-dose ceftriaxone was widely used in China. Its impacts need further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Han
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.,National Center for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing
| | - Yueping Yin
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.,National Center for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing
| | - Xiuqin Dai
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.,National Center for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing
| | - Shaochun Chen
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.,National Center for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing
| | - Ligang Yang
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University.,Guangdong Provincial Dermatology Hospital, Guangzhou
| | - Bangyong Zhu
- Institute of Dermatology, Guangxi Autonomous Region, Nanning
| | - Na Zhong
- Hainan Provincial Center for STD/Skin Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou
| | | | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University.,Guangdong Provincial Dermatology Hospital, Guangzhou
| | | | - Liufeng Yuan
- Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University
| | - Zhongjie Zheng
- Tianjin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | | | - Jun Liu
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Xiangsheng Chen
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.,National Center for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing
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Jones JH, Hazel A, Almquist Z. Transmission-dynamics models for the SARS Coronavirus-2. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 32:e23512. [PMID: 32978876 PMCID: PMC7536961 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley Hazel
- Department of Earth System ScienceStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Zack Almquist
- Department of SociologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
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Whittles LK, White PJ, Didelot X. A dynamic power-law sexual network model of gonorrhoea outbreaks. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1006748. [PMID: 30849080 PMCID: PMC6426262 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human networks of sexual contacts are dynamic by nature, with partnerships forming and breaking continuously over time. Sexual behaviours are also highly heterogeneous, so that the number of partners reported by individuals over a given period of time is typically distributed as a power-law. Both the dynamism and heterogeneity of sexual partnerships are likely to have an effect in the patterns of spread of sexually transmitted diseases. To represent these two fundamental properties of sexual networks, we developed a stochastic process of dynamic partnership formation and dissolution, which results in power-law numbers of partners over time. Model parameters can be set to produce realistic conditions in terms of the exponent of the power-law distribution, of the number of individuals without relationships and of the average duration of relationships. Using an outbreak of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea amongst men have sex with men as a case study, we show that our realistic dynamic network exhibits different properties compared to the frequently used static networks or homogeneous mixing models. We also consider an approximation to our dynamic network model in terms of a much simpler branching process. We estimate the parameters of the generation time distribution and offspring distribution which can be used for example in the context of outbreak reconstruction based on genomic data. Finally, we investigate the impact of a range of interventions against gonorrhoea, including increased condom use, more frequent screening and immunisation, concluding that the latter shows great promise to reduce the burden of gonorrhoea, even if the vaccine was only partially effective or applied to only a random subset of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilith K. Whittles
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. White
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Modelling and Economics Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Modelling Methodology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xavier Didelot
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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Gonorrhea in Indonesia: High Prevalence of Asymptomatic Urogenital Gonorrhea but No Circulating Extended Spectrum Cephalosporins-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Strains in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Denpasar, Indonesia. Sex Transm Dis 2017; 43:608-16. [PMID: 27626188 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000000510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the epidemiology of asymptomatic urogenital gonorrhea and antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) strains circulating in Indonesia. We studied these issues in 3 large Indonesian cities. METHODS In 2014, participants were recruited from sexually transmitted infection clinics and through outreach in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Denpasar. Neisseria gonorrhoeae detection in genital specimens was performed with NG-qPCR at the Public Health Service in Amsterdam. Antimicrobial susceptibility was investigated using the Etest. RESULTS Among 992 participants, 781 were asymptomatic and included in the risk factors analysis: 439 (56.2%) men, 258 (33.0%) women, and 84 (10.8%) transwomen. They differed significantly in age and were mostly men who have sex with men (35.2%) and female sex workers (29.3%).Overall, 175 (22.4%) asymptomatic participants had a positive NG-qPCR result. Factors positively associated with asymptomatic urogenital gonorrhea were being recruited through outreach (vs clinic-based), inconsistent condom use, and being divorced/widowed (vs single).Among 79 urogenital cultured isolates derived from 27 symptomatic and 52 asymptomatic participants, all isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime, and 98.7% of isolates were susceptible to azithromycin. In contrast, resistance to doxycycline (98.7%) and ciprofloxacin (97.4%) was common. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of asymptomatic urogenital gonorrhea among Indonesian key populations is very high. Little to no resistance against extended spectrum cephalosporins and azithromycin was observed. However, almost all isolates were resistant to doxycycline and ciprofloxacin. Strengthening outreach sexually transmitted infections services, composing guidelines to screen asymptomatic individuals, and implementing periodical antimicrobial resistance surveillance are recommended.
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Whole-genome sequencing to determine transmission of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: an observational study. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016; 16:1295-1303. [PMID: 27427203 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(16)30157-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND New approaches are urgently required to address increasing rates of gonorrhoea and the emergence and global spread of antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. We used whole-genome sequencing to study transmission and track resistance in N gonorrhoeae isolates. METHODS We did whole-genome sequencing of isolates obtained from samples collected from patients attending sexual health services in Brighton, UK, between Jan 1, 2011, and March 9, 2015. We also included isolates from other UK locations, historical isolates from Brighton, and previous data from a US study. Samples from symptomatic patients and asymptomatic sexual health screening underwent nucleic acid amplification testing; positive samples and all samples from symptomatic patients were cultured for N gonorrhoeae, and resulting isolates were whole-genome sequenced. Cefixime susceptibility testing was done in selected isolates by agar incorporation, and we used sequence data to determine multi-antigen sequence types and penA genotypes. We derived a transmission nomogram to determine the plausibility of direct or indirect transmission between any two cases depending on the time between samples: estimated mutation rates, plus diversity noted within patients across anatomical sites and probable transmission pairs, were used to fit a coalescent model to determine the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms expected. FINDINGS 1407 (98%) of 1437 Brighton isolates between Jan 1, 2011, and March 9, 2015 were successfully sequenced. We identified 1061 infections from 907 patients. 281 (26%) of these infections were indistinguishable (ie, differed by zero single nucleotide polymorphisms) from one or more previous cases, and 786 (74%) had evidence of a sampled direct or indirect Brighton source. We observed multiple related samples across geographical locations. Of 1273 infections in Brighton (including historical data), 225 (18%) were linked to another case elsewhere in the UK, and 115 (9%) to a case in the USA. Four lineages initially identified in Brighton could be linked to 70 USA sequences, including 61 from a lineage carrying the mosaic penA XXXIV allele, which is associated with reduced cefixime susceptibility. INTERPRETATION We present a whole-genome-sequencing-based tool for genomic contact tracing of N gonorrhoeae and demonstrate local, national, and international transmission. Whole-genome sequencing can be applied across geographical boundaries to investigate gonorrhoea transmission and to track antimicrobial resistance. FUNDING Oxford National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit and Biomedical Research Centre.
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