Distinct transmission networks of Chlamydia trachomatis in men who have sex with men and heterosexual adults in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
BACKGROUND
Genovar distributions of Chlamydia trachomatis based on ompA typing differ between men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexuals. We investigated clonal relationships using a high resolution typing method to characterize C. trachomatis types in these two risk groups.


METHODS
C. trachomatis positive samples were collected at the STI outpatient clinic in Amsterdam between 2008 and 2010 and genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. Clusters were assigned using minimum spanning trees and these were combined with epidemiological data of the hosts.


RESULTS
We typed 526 C. trachomatis positive samples: 270 from MSM and 256 from heterosexuals. Eight clusters, containing 10-128 samples were identified of which 4 consisted of samples from MSM (90%-100%), with genovars D, G, J, and L2b. The other 4 clusters consisted mainly of samples from heterosexuals (87%-100%) with genovars D, E, F, I, and J. Genetic diversity was much lower in the MSM clusters than in heterosexual clusters. Significant differences in number of sexual partners and HIV-serostatus were observed for MSM-associated clusters.


CONCLUSIONS
C. trachomatis transmission patterns among MSM and heterosexuals were largely distinct. We hypothesize that these differences are due to sexual host behavior, but bacterial factors may play a role as well.
Public Health Laboratory, Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD Amsterdam), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Reinier J M
RJ
Bom
Jannie J
JJ
van der Helm
Maarten F
MF
Schim van der Loeff
Martijn S
MS
van Rooijen
Titia
T
Heijman
Amy
A
Matser
Henry J C
HJ
de Vries
Sylvia M
SM
Bruisten
D000328:Adult; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D055815:Young Adult
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C078167:OMPA outer membrane proteins