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PubMed2005

Sentinel surveillance of sexually transmitted infections in South Africa: a review.

OBJECTIVES: To review studies of sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence in South Africa between 1985 and 2003 in selected sentinel populations. To examine how STI prevalence varies between populations and to identify the limitations of the existing data. METHODS: Studies of the prevalence of syphilis, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) were considered. Results were included if they related to women attending antenatal clinics or family planning clinics, commercial sex workers, individuals in the general population (household surveys), patients with STIs, patients with genital ulcer disease (GUD), or men with urethritis. RESULTS: High STI prevalence rates have been measured, particularly in the case of HSV-2, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis. The aetiological profile of GUD appears to be changing, with more GUD caused by HSV-2 and less caused by chancroid. The prevalence of gonorrhoea and syphilis is highest in "high risk" groups such as sex workers and attenders of STI clinics, but chlamydia and trichomoniasis prevalence levels are not significantly higher in these groups than in women attending antenatal clinics. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of STIs in South Africa is high, although there is extensive variability between regions. There is a need for STI prevalence data that are more nationally representative and that can be used to monitor prevalence trends more reliably.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Pattern of sexually transmitted disease in Madurai, India.

The pattern of sexually transmitted disease (STD) in a public clinic in Madurai City, India, was studied for 10 years (1974-83). Syphilis was found to be the most common STD in men (28.3%) and trichomoniasis in women (39.6%). The tropical STDs (chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, and granuloma inguinale) formed a sizeable proportion (30.1%) of all STDs. A tendency to overdiagnose chancroid and lymphogranuloma venereum and a failure to detect many cases of gonorrhoea reflected a lack of laboratory facilities.

Female↗
PubMed1991

Genital ulcer disease in women in Durban, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To study the microbial aetiology of genital ulcer disease (GUD) in women. DESIGN: Microbial and clinical assessment of genital ulcers in women. SETTING: City Health sexually transmitted diseases clinic, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: 100 Zulu women with genital ulceration who had not received antibiotics in the previous two weeks. RESULTS: Syphilis was diagnosed in 40%, genital herpes in 18%, donovanosis (granuloma inguinale) in 16%, chancroid in 14%, lymphogranuloma venereum in 7% and scabies in 2%. No recognised cause was detected in 18%. Secondary syphilis was diagnosed in 21%, primary syphilis in 16% and mixed primary and secondary syphilis in 3%. Multiple infections were detected in 13 women, of whom 12 had syphilis. Bleeding was observed from the ulcers of 59 during swab collection. Three women had HIV-1 antibodies. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was isolated from the ulcers and endocervix of two women and from the endocervix alone in nine. Generalised scabies was diagnosed in 14. CONCLUSIONS: All the major causes of GUD are prevalent in Zulu women in Durban: secondary syphilis was the commonest diagnosis. Donovanosis, which often presents late with large ulcers, and genital herpes are now significant problems. Mixed infections with coexisting syphilis are common. All women in this population with GUD should be treated for syphilis and receive oral antibiotics effective for chancroid and donovanosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Genital ulcer disease in men in Durban, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To study the microbial aetiology of genital ulcer disease (GUD) in men. DESIGN: Microbiological and clinical assessment of genital ulcers in men. SETTING: City Health sexually transmitted diseases clinic, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: 100 Zulu men with genital ulcers who had not received antibiotics in the previous four weeks. RESULTS: Syphilis was diagnosed in 42%, chancroid in 22%, donovanosis (granuloma inguinale) in 11%, genital herpes in 10% and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in 6%. No pathogens were identified in 24%. Mixed infections were detected in 14 men, in whom 13 had syphilis. Five men had HIV-1 antibodies. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was isolated from the ulcers and urethra in seven men and from the urethra alone in five. Scabies was diagnosed clinically in eight. CONCLUSIONS: All the major causes of GUD are prevalent in Zulu men in Durban. Primary syphilis was the commonest and was invariably present in mixed infections. Donovanosis was under-reported and was associated with a long delay before presentation. In this population, genital ulcers other than superficial lesions should be treated with anti-syphilitic therapy and oral antibiotics effective against chancroid and donovanosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Increasing prevalence of genital herpes in developing countries: implications for heterosexual HIV transmission and STI control programmes.

BACKGROUND: The recognition that sexually transmitted infections (STI) facilitate HIV transmission among heterosexuals has led to a rejuvenated focus on improving STI control as a component of HIV prevention programmes in developing countries. While efforts so far have focused mainly on all STI, there is increasing evidence that genital ulcers facilitate a considerable proportion of HIV transmission among heterosexuals and that this effect has been underestimated. This paper focuses on the epidemiology of genital herpes in developing countries past and present. OBJECTIVES: To review the scientific literature about the epidemiology of genital herpes in developing countries and discuss the implications of the findings for STI control and HIV prevention programmes. SEARCH METHODOLOGY: A Medline search for June 1966 to August 1999 using the keywords, genital herpes, STD and developing countries, and genital ulcers in MeSH and free text. Abstract books from recent international AIDS conferences and other international STD conferences were reviewed. The annual reports of the medical officers of heath for Harare 1982-1998 and Durban 1989-1997 were reviewed to detect trends in genital herpes diagnoses. FINDINGS: Genital herpes, formerly regarded as a minor STI in most developing countries, has now emerged as a leading cause of genital ulceration in many countries where syphilis and chancroid were more prevalent previously. This increased recognition of genital herpes reflects both a change in the pattern of STI epidemiology through a decline in syphilis and chancroid as a response to HIV control programmes and improved techniques for diagnosing herpetic infection. Countries with significant heterosexual HIV epidemics also appear to have rapidly increasing numbers of genital herpes cases. CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of this herpes epidemic must be addressed through innovative strategies that will be viable, sustainable, acceptable, and effective in developing countries. In countries where genital herpes is a significant problem, local adaptation of WHO treatment algorithms should be made. STI service providers should be trained about issues around the transmission of herpes and how best to advise clients about dealing with, and recognising, recurrences. The effectiveness of antiviral treatment for genital herpes should be investigated in core groups at high risk of HIV.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2006

Sexually transmitted infections in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Saudi Arabia (SA) and other Islamic countries are limited. This study describes the results of a five-year surveillance for STIs in SA. METHODS: This is a case series descriptive study of all confirmed STIs diagnosed in SA from January, 1995 through December, 1999. RESULTS: A total of 39049 STIs were reported to the Ministry of Health. Reported STIs included nongonococcal urethritis (14557 infections, 37.3%), trichomoniasis (10967 infections, 28.1%), gonococcal urethritis (5547 infections, 14.2%), syphilis (3385 infections, 8.7%), human immunodeficiency virus (2917 infections, 7.5%), genital warts (1382, 3.5%), genital herpes (216 infections, 0.6%), and chancroid (78 infections, 0.2%). The average annual incidence of STIs per 100,000 population for Saudis and non-Saudis, respectively, was as follows: 14.8 and 7.5 for nongonococcal urethritis, 9.4 and 10.4 for trichomoniasis, 5.2 and 4.2 for gonorrhea, 1.7 and 6.4 for syphilis, 0.6 and 8.0 for HIV, 1.4 and 0.7 for genital warts, 0.1 and 0.4 for genital herpes, and 0.1 and 0.1 for chancroid. The incidence of STIs was somewhat steady over the surveillance period except for nongonococcal urethritis which gradually increased. CONCLUSION: Nongonococcal urethritis, trichomoniasis, and gonococcal urethritis were the most commonly reported STIs in SA. Even though the incidence of STIs in SA is limited, appropriate preventive strategies that conform to the Islamic rules and values are essential and should be of highest priority for policymakers because of the potential of such infections to spread particularly among the youth.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Validation of syndromic algorithm for the management of genital ulcer diseases in China.

OBJECTIVES: 1. To determine the aetiologies of genital ulcers in China. 2. To evaluate a modified WHO syndromic management algorithm for genital ulcer disease (GUD). METHODS: Patients with genital ulcers were enrolled at their first visit to STD clinics in the cities of Shanghai and Chengdu. They were managed according to a modified WHO algorithm for GUD, in which no treatment was given for chancroid. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to detect Treponema pallidum, Herpes simplex and Haemophilus ducreyi. Dark field examination and serology (rapid plasma reagin and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay (TPPA) were also used to diagnose syphilis. RESULTS: A total of 227 male and female patients were enrolled. Syphilis alone was diagnosed in 78 (35%), genital herpes alone in 43 (19%), and both infections were present in 28 (12%). No diagnosis was made in 76 (34%). No case of chancroid was identified. The sensitivity of the algorithm for syphilis and herpes was 88.7% and 69.0% respectively, the specificity 95.0% and 50.0%. 12/106 cases of syphilis were incorrectly classified as herpes (11%), and did not receive treatment. More than 97% of patients followed up responded clinically to treatment. CONCLUSION: Further validation and revision of the WHO flowchart for GUD are needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Neutrophil degranulation induced by Haemophilus ducreyi.

Haemophilus ducreyi is the causative bacterium of genital ulcers, which are collectively known as chancroid. Little is known about the cytotoxicity of H. ducreyi. The virulent strains are relatively resistant to phagocytosis and apoptosis by neutrophils. Therefore, experiments were designed to examine whether neutrophil degranulation caused by H. ducrey would provide insights into the virulence mechanisms through which cellular damage is affected by the organism. Clinical isolates of eight strains of H. ducreyi and the culture strain type CIP542 (Collection Institute Pasteur) were incubated with neutrophils harvested from human donor blood. The release by the organism of lysosomal enzymes from intracellular granules of neutrophils was indicative of degranulation. The results showed that H. ducreyi triggered the release of lysosomal enzymes from human neutrophils, and that the magnitude of the release was dependent both on the ratio of bacteria to neutrophils and the duration of incubation. In vitro experiments involving HeLa cells were designed to determine the manner in which H. ducreyi initiated the process of degranulation. The morphological changes associated with degranulation were visualized by confocal and transmission electron microscopy. This is the first report that describes degranulation of neutrophils induced by H. ducreyi which causes chancroid infection.

Cathepsin D↗
PubMed1995

The use of fluoroquinolones in sexually transmitted diseases in Southeast Asia.

This paper reviews the use of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the management of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in Southeast Asia. Numerous clinical trials performed in the region have shown that the quinolones are highly effective for treating uncomplicated gonorrhoea. Norfloxacin 800 mg, ofloxacin 400 mg, ciprofloxacin 250 mg, and pefloxacin 400 mg in single oral doses have yielded excellent clinical results. Overall cure rates were greater than 95%, with full eradication of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae in all studies. Strains of gonococci resistant to the quinolones have already emerged and should be closely monitored. However, this has not become a serious problem to date, as large scale evaluation has shown that the quinolones remain highly efficacious for the treatment of gonorrhoea. These antibiotics in single doses are not effective for postgonococcal urethritis (PGU); therefore, concomitant use of an antichlamydial regimen for all patients with gonorrhoea is recommended. The quinolones are also highly effective for chancroid. Excellent results, with cure rates approaching 100%, were achieved with single oral doses of ciprofloxacin 500 mg, norfloxacin 800 mg, and ofloxacin 400 mg. Widespread use of these drugs in STD treatment regimens may be one of the main factors causing a dramatic decline in the number of cases of chancroid seen in recent years. Ofloxacin in variable dosages for a period of 10 to 21 days was found to be effective in nongonococcal urethritis (NGU). However, when compared with the tetracyclines, it is less cost effective and can thus be regarded as an alternative treatment for NGU.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1995

Fleroxacin. A review of its pharmacology and therapeutic efficacy in various infections.

The fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent fleroxacin has a broad spectrum of in vitro activity which encompasses most Gram-negative species (particularly Enterobacteriaceae) and a number of Gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-sensitive staphylococci. It is available as oral and intravenous formulations. In clinical trials, fleroxacin has been evaluated in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (single or multiple once-daily oral doses of 200 or 400mg), gonorrhoea and chancroid (single oral doses of 200 or 400mg), complicated urinary tract, nonpneumococcal lower respiratory tract and skin and soft tissue infections and typhoid fever (multiple once-daily oral or intravenous regimens, usually 400 mg/day), bacterial enteritis, and traveller's diarrhoea (single or multiple once-daily oral doses of 400mg). Bacteriological cure rates were generally around 90% or higher in complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections, uncomplicated gonorrhoea (approximately 100%), pyelonephritis, bacterial enteritis and typhoid fever, and exceeded 80% in lower respiratory tract, and skin and soft tissue infections and chancroid. These cure rates were similar to, or better than, those achieved with standard comparator antibacterial agents such as penicillins, cephalosporins, cotrimoxazole, or other quinolones. Fleroxacin 400mg once daily also achieved bacteriological cure in approximately 80% of patients with bone and joint infections in preliminary studies. In Japanese studies using a lower dosage of 200 or 300 mg/day, fleroxacin was reported to be bacteriologically effective in a range of infections, including urinary tract and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Fleroxacin has a relatively long elimination half-life, which allows once-daily administration, and it appears to have less propensity for interactions with other medications in comparison to many other fluoroquinolones. Its tolerability profile is typical of this class of compound, with adverse events mostly relating to the gastrointestinal tract, CNS, and skin and appendages (including phototoxicity). Recent pooled tolerability data from worldwide clinical trials indicate that adverse events are reported by approximately 27% of patients receiving 200 mg/day orally or 400 mg/day orally or intravenously, and 17% of those receiving a single oral dose of 400mg. These exceed incidences reported for established fluoroquinolones, possibly indicating recent trends towards increased rates of reported adverse effects with these agents. However, in direct comparative studies with twice-daily fluoroquinolones, fleroxacin 400mg once daily produced a similar incidence of adverse effects to ofloxacin 800 mg/day and a slightly higher incidence than ciprofloxacin 1000 mg/day, while fleroxacin 200mg once daily produced a similar incidence to norfloxacin 800 mg/day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Drug utilisation pattern in sexually transmitted diseases and its economic considerations--a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: WHO regularly revises guidelines for the treatment of these. There are very few studies reported on the drug utilization pattern of STD's in India. METHODS: In the present study, 325 patients attending the STD clinic of Lok Nayak Hospital were analysed over a period of six months. RESULTS: The demographic pattern of the patients was similar to those of studies reported earlier. Syphilis was the commonest of the STD's encountered; followed by viral STD's (c. acuminata and herpes progenitalis); gonorrhoea; chancroid and genital candidiasis. Out of a total of 409 drugs prescribed, the average number of drugs per prescription was 1.25. Sixty seven percent of the drugs were available in essential drug list of the hospital and 60% were prescribed in generic name. Ninety seven percent of the prescriptions were in accordance with WHO treatment guidelines. The cost of the drug treatment was comparable for c.acuminata, syphilis and chancroid while it was less for herpes progenitalis (HPG) due to acyclovir not being prescribed. However, it was more for gonorrhoea and candidiasis because of additional drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows a trend towards rational prescribing. It would be interesting to compare the results with a non teaching hospital.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Syphilis and gonorrhoea in the Czech Republic.

Syphilis remains a public health problem in the Czech Republic and worldwide. The Czech Republic--until 1993 a part of Czechoslovakia--has a long tradition in public health activities, and STI surveillance is mainly focused on the infections traditionally called venereal diseases--syphilis, gonorrhoea, chancroid, and lymphogranuloma venereum. Campaigns from the early 1950s, were successful in controlling syphilis and gonorrhoea; and chancroid and lymphogranuloma venereum infections are extremely rare. In late 1980s, a low incidence of newly reported syphilis cases was achieved (100-200 cases annually), while around 6500 cases of gonorrhoea were recorded annually during the same period. Health care and prevention of STI diseases in the Czech Republic are based on close cooperation between clinical departments and laboratory and epidemiological services of Environmental Health Offices. Annual statistics showing data on reported cases of 'venereal diseases', based on ICD-10 codes, are available from 1959. Separate statistical data on other STIs are not available, and aggregated numbers only for Chlamydia trachomatis infections have been presented annually since 2000. Following the political and social changes in the Czech community in 1989, a distinct increase of syphilis was recorded. Between 50% and 60% of notified cases were classified as late latent or of unknown duration. The continuing annual occurrence of congenital syphilis (7-18 cases per year) reported during the 1990s has also been a very serious phenomenon. Cases have been concentrated in large urban areas with a high level of commercial sex activity, and a high proportion of cases is also noted in refugees. While the annual incidence of gonorrhoea gradually decreased from 1994 to 2001 (from 28.5 to 8.9 per 100,000 population), the incidence of syphilis increased in this period from 3.6 to 9.6 per 100,000 population (the highest value was 13.4 in 2001) and in 2000, for the first time in many years, it exceeded the incidence of gonorrhoea.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A microbiological study of genital ulcers in Kuala Lumpur.

The microbial aetiology of genital ulcers was studied in 249 patients (241 men and 8 women) attending a Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Herpes simplex virus type 2 was isolated in 48 (19.2%) patients, Haemophilus ducreyi from 22 (8.8%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae from seven (2.8%) and Chlamydia trachomatis from four (1.6%). Syphilis was diagnosed in 18 (7.2%) patients on the basis of dark field microscopy. Two (0.8%) patients were found to have both chancroid and syphilis and one (0.5%) had both gonorrhoea and syphilis. No organism was isolated in the remaining 151 (61.5%) patients. Overall, the accuracy of clinical diagnosis was 58% for single infection, 67% for herpes, 63% for syphilis, 47% for chancroid and 0% for lymphogranuloma venereum. Therefore, our study confirms the need for laboratory tests to diagnose accurately the aetiology of genital ulcer disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases in the Scandinavian countries.

In the Scandinavian countries, laws require reporting of the traditional venereal diseases, i.e., gonorrhea, syphilis, lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), and ulcus molle, or chancroid. Incidence figures for these diseases, therefore, are fairly reliable. In the Scandinavian countries, LGV and chancroid are rare diseases, and the syphilis incidence has remained low. These three diseases are typically male afflictions. Gonorrhea outnumbers the other diseases mentioned and at present has a nearly 1:1 male: female ratio. In Scandinavia, as in other parts of the world after World War II, gonorrhea has shown great epidemiological fluctuations. A heavy increase in its incidence was evident in Sweden and Denmark during the 1960s. During the 1970s, however, the incidence in Sweden dropped significantly, with the 1980 figures corresponding to those seen in 1960. Sweden now has the lowest incidence of gonorrhea among the Scandinavian countries. During the past three years, the incidence of infections with penicillinase-producing gonococci (PPNG) has increased. Most of the strains isolated have originated from the Far East. As documented in several recent investigations, genital chlamydial infections are at least as common as gonorrhea in the Scandinavian countries. Acute salpingitis has been shown to be a common complication of such infections. Among the other sexually transmitted diseases (STD), Trichomonas infections are still common. The prevalence of genital warts and of Herpes Simplex Virus (type 2) infections is increasing and within the next few years these probably can be expected to become an even greater problem than are the traditional venereal diseases, because no specific treatment is yet available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Soap and water prophylaxis for limiting genital ulcer disease and HIV-1 infection in men in sub-Saharan Africa.

In general, East, Central and Southern Africa appear to be worse affected by HIV-1 infection than West Africa. So far there is little evidence to suggest that differences in either sexual behaviour or numbers of sexual partners could account for this disparity. Two risk factors in men for acquiring HIV-1, that tend to vary along this geographical divide, are lack of circumcision and genital ulcer disease (GUD) which are much less common in West Africa. Although uncircumcised men with GUD are an important high frequency HIV-1 transmitter core group, few interventions have targeted such individuals. Given the recent expansion in AIDS-related technologies, is it possible that methods effective in limiting GUD in the preantibiotic era have been overlooked? During the first and second world wars, chancroid, the commonest cause of GUD in Africa today, was controlled successfully with various prophylactics including soap and water. Many parts of Africa are undergoing social upheaval against a background of violence, and in this environment soap and water prophylaxis would now seem to merit re-evaluation as an intervention for preventing both GUD and HIV-1 in uncircumcised men. By facilitating healing of traumatic, inflammatory and infected penile lesions, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis with soap and water could be a cheap and effective method for decreasing the risks of acquiring GUD and HIV in this vulnerable group of uncircumcised men.

Africa South of the Sahara↗
PubMed1998

Rapid identification and speciation of Haemophilus bacteria by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Several species of the genus Haemophilus are well known etiological agents of pneumonia, meningitis, conjunctivitis, epiglottitis and chancroid. However, identification and speciation of Haemophilus is both time consuming and labor intensive. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF-MS) has been used by several investigators to profile proteins from intact and disrupted bacteria; consequently, MALDI/TOF-MS has emerged as a powerful tool in diagnostic bacteriology. This paper reports the use of MALDI/TOF-MS as a technique for the rapid identification and speciation of Haemophilus. This technique was used to not only identify the pathogen, H. ducreyi, but also to determine strain differences from different isolates. Mass spectral 'fingerprints' were obtained which permitted the rapid speciation of not only pathogenic forms of Haemophilus, but also those bacteria which are normally regarded as non-pathogenic and members of the normal flora. MALDI/TOF mass spectra can be acquired in 10 min, allowing the identification of Haemophilus spp. within 24 h rather than the 48 h or more needed for traditional bacteriological methods. In addition, these are the first mass spectral fingerprints available in the literature for many of these organisms.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗
PubMed1995

Monoclonal antibodies against Haemophilus ducreyi lipooligosaccharide and their diagnostic usefulness.

Monoclonal antibodies against the lipooligosaccharide of Haemophilus ducreyi were produced. Two of them, MAHD6 and MAHD7, were found to be relatively, although not absolutely, specific and reacted with nearly all strains of Haemophilus ducreyi tested: 59 of 60 and 60 of 60, respectively. The diagnostic usefulness of MAHD7 was assessed. Clinical specimens collected in Zambia from patients with genital ulcers were tested using indirect immunofluorescence (IF), enzyme immunoassay (EIA), the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial culture. Compared with culture, IF had a sensitivity of 100%; compared with PCR, sensitivity was 89%. The corresponding figures for the EIA were 83% and 74%, respectively. The sensitivity of culture compared with PCR was 63%. The results suggest that IF on genital smears using MAHD7 might be an excellent tool for the diagnosis of chancroid in high-prevalence populations. However, further evaluation of the specificity of this test is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of pili expressed by Haemophilus ducreyi.

Twelve strains of Haemophilus ducreyi isolated primarily from chancroid outbreaks in North America were examined for the presence of pili by transmission electron microscopy. We identified piliated cells in 10 of the 12 strains. Pilin extracts were prepared from the mechanically sheared cells of the 12 H. ducreyi strains as well as the stably piliated H. influenzae strain R890 and its non-piliated parent R906. Pili were present in 12 out of 12 H. ducreyi extracts and in the R890 extract but not in the R906 preparation. Pili were purified by cycles of differential pH solubilization and crystallization. In SDS-PAGE, the preparation consisted predominantly of a protein whose apparent relative molecular mass was 24,000 (24 k), and an electron micrograph showed that the preparation contained pili. Three H. ducreyi strains were passed 52 times on agar plates, and extracts prepared from these strains contained pili. There was no evidence of binding of erythrocytes obtained from nine mammalian and avian species to colonies of one of the stably piliated H. ducreyi strains. We conclude that H. ducreyi expressed pili, that the relative molecular mass of the pilin monomer was 24 k, that pilus expression was not readily lost in passage and that H. ducreyi pili may not bind to an erythrocyte receptor.

Amino Acids↗