title: Viral and bacterial aetiologies of male urethritis: findings of a high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus.
abstract: Male urethritis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, the aetiology is still unclear in many cases. In this study the prevalences of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, cytomegalovirus (CMV), adenovirus, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium and Ureaplasma urealyticum (including subtyping) were investigated. Samples from 112 male STI attendants with microscopically verified urethritis and from a control group of 103 men without clinical or microscopic signs of urethritis were analysed. Prevalences in the urethritis group compared with the controls were as follows: EBV 21%, 6% (P < 0.01); C. trachomatis 15%, 3% (P < 0.01); M. genitalium 6%, 1% (P = 0.067) and U. urealyticum 10%, 10% (ns). The results for HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV and adenovirus were negative in patients, and therefore not analysed in the controls. EBV was shown to be an independent predictor of urethritis and may play a role in its pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berntsson
authors.forename: G-B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Löwhagen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubicanac
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Welinder-Olsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alvengren
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tunbäck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D014526:Urethritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*