Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection in African American Women Who Exclusively Have Sex with Women

Little is known about whether Chlamydia trachomatis can be sexually transmitted between women or how often it occurs in women who have sex with women. We investigated Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and serum Chlamydia trachomatis-specific antibody responses among African American women who have sex with women who reported a lifetime history of sex only with women (exclusive women who have sex with women) (n = 21) vs. an age-matched group of women reporting sex with women and men (n = 42). 

Participants completed a survey, underwent a pelvic examination in which a cervical swab was collected for Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid amplification testing, and had serum tested for anti-Chlamydia trachomatis IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies using a Chlamydia trachomatis elementary body-based ELISA. No exclusive women who have sex with women had a positive Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid amplification testing vs. 5 (11.9%) women reporting sex with women and men having a positive Chlamydia trachomatis NAAT (p = 0.16). Compared with women reporting sex with women and men, exclusive women who have sex with women were significantly less likely to be Chlamydia trachomatis seropositive (7 [33.3%] vs. 29 [69%], p = 0.007). Among Chlamydia trachomatis seropositive women, all were seropositive by IgG1, and the magnitude of Chlamydia trachomatis-specific IgG1 responses did not differ in Chlamydia trachomatis-seropositive exclusive women who have sex with women vs. women reporting sex with women and men. 

In conclusion, Chlamydia trachomatis seropositivity was relatively common in exclusive African American women who have sex with women, though significantly less common than in African American women reporting sex with women and men.

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By: Muzny CA1, Kapil R1, Austin EL1, Brown L1, Hook EW 3rd1, Geisler WM2.

• 1More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv_insightDepartment of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
• 2Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

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