Patterns of sex worker-client contacts and their implications for the persistence of sexually transmitted infections.

J Infect Dis

Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.

Published: February 2005

Sex workers (SWs) and their clients are often identified as being central in transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Little is known about how patterns of contact between SWs and their clients influence the persistence of STIs. We developed an individual-based simulation model to explore how variation in number of client contacts per SW, whether clients repeatedly visited the same SW, and the relative sizes of the SW and client populations influence the endemic prevalence of gonorrhea and herpes simplex virus type 2 infection. Persistence of either infection was more likely if clients visited many different SWs, regardless of variation in the SW-client contact rate, and also resulted in a higher endemic prevalence in both populations and a greater likelihood of persistence of infection at lower levels in the general population. The size of the SW population (relative to the total population) was found to be most important in determining the overall prevalence of infection.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/425276DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

sexually transmitted
8
transmitted infections
8
sws clients
8
endemic prevalence
8
persistence infection
8
patterns sex
4
sex worker-client
4
worker-client contacts
4
contacts implications
4
persistence
4

Similar Publications

, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted parasite, causes more than 270 million infections annually. The infection's outcome varies greatly depending on different factors that include variation in human immune responses, the vaginal microbiome, and the inherent virulence of the strain. Although the pathogenicity of the different strains depends, at least partially, on differential gene expression of virulence genes; the regulatory mechanisms governing this transcriptional control remain incompletely understood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

is the causative agent of the venereal disease trichomoniasis which infects men and women globally and is associated with serious outcomes during pregnancy and cancers of the human reproductive tract. Trichomonads parasitize a range of hosts in addition to humans including birds, livestock, and domesticated animals. Recent genetic analysis of trichomonads recovered from columbid birds has provided evidence that these parasite species undergo frequent host-switching, and that a current epoch spillover event from columbids likely gave rise to in humans.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The emergence of parasites partially resistant to artemisinins (ART-R) poses a significant threat to recent gains in malaria control. ART-R has been associated with PfKelch13 (K13) mutations, which differ in fitness costs. This study investigates the gametocyte production and transmission fitness of African and Asian isolates with different K13 genotypes across multiple mosquito species.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be prevented and effectively treated; yet it continues to be a cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a limited understanding of the epidemiology of syphilis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Methods: A systematic review conducted up to April 30, 2024 assessed the prevalence of syphilis and followed PRISMA guidelines, without language and date restrictions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence globally, but information about trends and geographic variation is limited by sparse aetiologic studies, particularly among men. This systematic review assessed chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and trichomoniasis prevalence by sex, sub-region, and year, and estimated male-to-female prevalence ratios for SSA.

Methods: We searched Embase, MEDLINE, Global Health, PubMed, and African Index Medicus for studies measuring STI prevalence among general populations from January 1, 2000, to September 17, 2024.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!