title: Aetiology of sexually transmitted infections in Maputo, Mozambique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study sought to ascertain the prevalence of the aetiological agents of genital discharge and genital ulcer diseases in Maputo, Mozambique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive consenting patients presenting to the Centro de Saúde do Porto in Maputo between March and April 2005 with genital discharge syndrome and/or genital ulcer diseases were recruited. Specimens were collected for the identification of STI pathogens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 346 recruited patients, 164 were male and 182 female. The prevalence of confirmed single aetiological agents for male urethritis was as follows: N. gonorrhoeae, 35%; C. trachomatis, 10%; and M. genitalium 4%. For vaginal discharge, N. gonorrhoeae was found in 11% of the women tested, followed by C. trachomatis (6.5%), bacterial vaginosis (34%), and T. vaginalis (2%). The prevalence of genital ulcers was as follows: Herpes simplex virus type 2, 62%; H. ducreyi 4 %; and C. trachomatis biovar LGV, 4%. Five percent of patients with genital ulcers had a positive syphilis serology (RPR ≥ 1:8 and confirmed by TPHA) and 35% of all tested patients were HIV-1/2 infected. Cases of mixed infections were present in 5%, 11% and 3% of patients with male urethritis, vaginal discharge, and genital ulcers respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The classic sexually transmitted infection aetiologies are still prevalent in Maputo. The study highlights the need for a periodic surveillance to inform syndromic management protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. zimba@ukzn.ac.za
authors.forename: Tomas Francisco
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Zimba
authors.forename: Teke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Apalata
authors.forename: Willem Adrian
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.forename: Prashini
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moodley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009073:Mozambique / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*