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At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Antisperm antibodies to sperm surface antigens in women with genital tract infection.

Antisperm antibodies to sperm surface antigens in nulligravid women with primary upper genital tract infections were measured by the sperm mixed agglutination reaction assay. As many as 56% of women with a primary episode of pelvic inflammatory disease had antisperm antibodies. In addition, 69% of those women with no history of genital tract infection but with laparoscopic evidence of past pelvic infection had significant levels of circulating antisperm antibodies. Electroimmunoblots of sperm preparations probed with the sera of women who had either known or presumed upper genital tract infection revealed a uniformly recognized 69 kd antigen. In contrast, women with circulating antisperm antibodies before primary upper genital tract infection recognized up to five distinct sperm antigen determinants of 27, 54, 131, 146, and 174 kd. It is a distinct possibility that genital tract infections may lead to immunopotentiation of antisperm antibodies that could affect fertility.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Levator contraction strength and genital hiatus as risk factors for recurrent pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate levator ani contraction strength and genital hiatus measurements with surgical failure in prolapse. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study involved chart review for documentation of levator contraction strength, genital hiatus measurement, and recurrent pelvic floor disorders in women who underwent surgery for prolapse. RESULTS: The recurrent prolapse rate was 34.6%. Median follow-up interval was 5 months. Diminished levator strength was associated with recurrent prolapse (35.8% versus 0%; P = .017). A genital hiatus 5 cm or greater was associated with recurrent prolapse (44.2% vs 27.8%; P = .034). Inability to contract the levator ani was associated with urinary incontinence (35.1% vs 18.8%; P = .023). Increasing levator contraction strength was associated with a decreased reoperation rate for pelvic floor disorders, whereas genital hiatus correlated best with recurrent prolapse. CONCLUSION: Diminished levator ani contraction strength and a widened genital hiatus correlate with an increase in surgical failures in the early postoperative period. These tools are useful for counseling a patient concerning surgery for prolapse.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Female genital tuberculosis and infertility.

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to evaluate the rate of diagnosed female genital tuberculosis and its presentational symptoms and methods of diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 3088 cases of tuberculosis (TB) who had been registered and treated in the Health Center of Fars Province from 1989 to 1999 were retrospectively studied. From this group, 46 women were diagnosed as having genital TB. The diagnosis in 41 cases was based on the standard pathological criteria of tissue specimens. The other five cases were excluded from this study due to the lack of classical diagnostic criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using the Z-test. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 30.4 years. Seven patients presented with abdominal or pelvic pain (17.07%). In this group three cases underwent laparatomy due to abdominal mass and four patients for tubo-ovarian abscess, which led to the diagnosis. Abnormal uterine bleeding was the cause of diagnostic dilatation and curettage in three other patients (7.31%). However, in 31 cases (75.6%) TB was diagnosed during studies performed to evaluate the cause of their infertility, and the most common diagnostic procedure was endometrial curettage (25 cases). Female genital TB accounted for 1.32% of all tuberculous patients in this study. Of these, 75.6% were infertile by definition (Z=12.13 P<0.0001). TB endometritis was detected in 72.03%, tubal involvement in 34.03%, ovarian TB in 12.9% and cervical TB in 2.4% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the presence of a strong relationship between genital TB and infertility; therefore genital TB would be more frequently diagnosed if this possibility was considered in the evaluation of every infertile patient in areas where tuberculosis is endemic.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1996

Serum alpha L-fucosidase enzyme activity in ovarian and other female genital tract tumors.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of serum alpha-L-fucosidase as a tumor marker in the diagnosis of ovarian and other female genital tract tumors. METHODS: One-hundred fifty-one patients were studied; 101 had different genital tract tumors (malignant ovarian tumors (48), carcinoma of the cervix (13), endometrial carcinoma (6), carcinoma of the vulva (6) and benign tumors (28)). A control group of 50 healthy female patients was included. Serum alpha-L-fucosidase activity was determined in all patients and controls. Serum CA 125 level was also determined in patients with malignant ovarian tumors. RESULTS: patients with malignant ovarian tumors showed the lowest level of alpha-L-fucosidase activity in comparison to other malignant and benign tumors of the female genital tract and also in comparison to malignant ovarian tumors. RESULTS: Patients with malignant ovarian tumors showed the lowest level of alpha-L-fucosidase activity in comparison to other malignant and benign tumors of the female genital tract and also in comparison to control group. The majority of ovarian carcinoma patients (90%) had a serum level of < 275 u/ml of alpha-L-fucosidase activity, while more than 90% of the control group and other genital tumors had a serum level of > 275 u/ml. The sensitivity and specificity of serum alpha-L-fucosidase activity in diagnosing epithelial ovarian tumors were 88.5% and 98%, respectively (using a cut-off level of < 275 u/ml). The corresponding figures for CA 125 were 96.2% and 100% (using a cut-off level of > 35 u/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Serum alpha-L-fucosidase enzyme activity can be useful as a tumor marker in diagnosing advanced malignant epithelial ovarian tumors. Its sensitivity and specificity are comparable to CA 125. However, there is a lack of data to support its usefulness in the diagnosis of early stage disease (Stage 1). The cost of doing the test is one-third that of CA 125 and the test can be more widely applied in developing countries.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Apropos of a case of Streptococcus pneumoniae salpingitis, epidemiology of female genital pneumococcal infections].

BACKGROUND: Pneumoccocci were sometimes isolated from female genital tract specimens, usually without any clinical signification. However few cases of female pneumococcal genital infections were previously reported. CASE REPORT: We describe an additional report of salpingitis, occurring in a 35-years old female early after installation of an intra-uterine device. DISCUSSION: Data collected by the National Reference Center for Pneumococci show that 0.9% of the strains documented in the past five years (1992 to 1996) were isolated from the female genitals tract. Most of these infections are caused by S. pneumoniae belonging to the serotypes 1 or 3. About 20% of the strains displayed a reduced sensitivity to penicillin. Although genital infections caused by S. pneumoniae and the neonatal colonisation with the maternal strain are rare, their potential occurrence should not be neglected. Thus, in order to limit the risks of such infections, an antibiotic treatment should immediately started following the detection of a pneumococcal genital carriage.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Genital human papillomavirus infection in men.

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, globally one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, is associated with cancers, genital warts, and other epithelial lesions. Although a consistent and coherent picture of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of genital HPV infections in women has developed over the past two decades, less is known about these infections in men. Available data suggest that, as with women, most genital HPV infections in men are symptomless and unapparent, and that HPV16 is probably the most frequently detected type. In populations of similar age, the prevalence of specific HPV types is usually lower in men than in women. Whether this observation relates to lower incidence or shorter duration of infection in men than in women has not yet been determined. Seroprevalence of specific anti-HPV antibodies also seems to be lower in men than in women of similar age, a difference that might be due to lower viral load, lower incidence or duration of infection or lower antibody responses, or both, in men compared with women. Differences in sexual behaviour may also be important predictors of genital HPV infection. With the anticipated availability of prophylactic HPV vaccines in the near future, it becomes increasingly important to understand the incidence and duration of HPV infections in men to develop cost-effective approaches to prevention through a combination of immunisation and promotion of risk-reduction strategies.

Condylomata Acuminata↗
PubMed2006

Female genital tract graft-versus-host disease: incidence, risk factors and recommendations for management.

Female genital tract graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is an under-recognized complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation impacting on quality of life. We describe a prospective surveillance programme for female genital GVHD to better characterize incidence, risk factors and clinical features and the impact of a structured intervention policy. A retrospective audit was conducted on the medical records of all female transplant recipients surviving at least 6 months at a single centre over a 5-year period. Patients commenced topical vaginal oestrogen early post transplant with hormone replacement as appropriate for age, prior menopausal status and co-morbidities. A genital tract management programme included regular gynaecological review and self-maintenance of vaginal capacity by dilator or intercourse. The incidence of genital GVHD was 35% (95% confidence interval (CI) (25, 50%)) at 1 year and 49% (95% CI (36, 63%)) at 2 years. Topical therapy was effective in most cases; no patient required surgical intervention to divide vaginal adhesions. The main risk factor was stem cell source with peripheral blood progenitor cells posing a higher risk than marrow (hazard ratio=3.07 (1.22, 7.73), P=0.017). Extensive GVHD in other organs was a common association. We conclude that female genital GVHD is common, and early detection and commencement of topical immunosuppression with dilator use appears to be highly effective at preventing progression.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1990

Genital tumors among men with psoriasis exposed to psoralens and ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA) and ultraviolet B radiation. The Photochemotherapy Follow-up Study.

Squamous-cell cancer occurs only rarely on the male genitalia. In a 12.3-year prospective study of 892 men in a cohort of patients with psoriasis who had been treated with oral methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen) and ultraviolet A photochemotherapy (PUVA), we identified 14 patients (1.6 percent) with 30 genital neoplasms. The standard morbidity ratio (which was used as a measure of the risk of a genital neoplasm) comparing morbidity among patients treated with PUVA with that expected on the basis of population incidence data was 95.7 (95 percent confidence interval, 43.8 to 181.8) for invasive squamous-cell carcinoma of the penis and scrotum, and 58.8 (26.9 to 111.7) for invasive and in situ penile tumors. In patients exposed to high levels of PUVA, the incidence of invasive squamous-cell carcinoma was 286 times that in the general population and 16.3 times that in patients exposed to low levels (P less than 0.001 for both comparisons). After controlling for the level of exposure to PUVA, we found that patients exposed to high levels of ultraviolet B radiation had a risk of genital tumors 4.6 times higher than that in other patients (95 percent confidence interval, 1.4 to 15.1). The strongly dose-dependent increase in the risk of genital tumors associated with exposure to PUVA and ultraviolet B radiation that we observed makes it prudent for men to use genital protection whenever they are exposed to PUVA or other forms of ultraviolet radiation for therapeutic, recreational, or cosmetic reasons.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Underdiagnosis of genital herpes by current clinical and viral-isolation procedures.

BACKGROUND: The current clinical strategy for diagnosing genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in women relies on clinical findings plus the selective use of viral culture. The effectiveness of this approach for identifying women with genital herpes is unknown. METHODS: We performed physical examinations, colposcopy, Pap smears, viral cultures, and HSV type-specific serologic assays of 779 randomly selected women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic. RESULTS: Evidence of HSV type 2 infection was detected in 363 women (47 percent), and 9 others (1 percent) had positive cultures indicative of urogenital or anal infection with HSV type 1. Of these 372 women, only 82 (22 percent) had symptoms. Fourteen women (4 percent) had viral shedding without symptoms, 60 (16 percent) had formerly had symptomatic episodes, and 216 (58 percent) had antibodies to HSV-2 with neither viral shedding nor a history of clinical episodes. Characteristic ulcerations of the external genitalia were present in only two thirds of the 66 women with positive HSV cultures; the others had atypical genital lesions or asymptomatic viral shedding. Isolation of HSV from a genitourinary tract specimen was the most sensitive (77 percent) test for confirming a first episode of infection. The detection of HSV-2-specific antibodies was the most sensitive (97 percent) way to confirm symptomatic reactivations of HSV-2 infection. HSV-2 serologic testing also identified the 290 women with asymptomatic HSV-2 infections (37 percent), including 14 (5 percent) who were shedding virus asymptomatically on the day of the examination. CONCLUSIONS: The current strategy for diagnosing genital HSV infection in women misses many cases. Newly developed type-specific serologic methods can identify women with recurrent genital HSV-2 infection, as well as those with unrecognized or subclinical infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Cutaneous and sensory effects of feminine hygiene pads among women with recent genital infection.

We compared the skin compatibility of two menstrual pad technologies in a single-center, parallel, randomized, examiner-blinded study involving adult women. This report presents the results of a subset of 10 participants who had a genital infection within 12 months prior to the start of the study. In a blinded fashion, participants were randomized to receive one of the two pads for use over two menstrual periods. Participants' skin erythema was graded 24-48 hours following cessation of menstrual flow and on day 14 of each menstrual cycle. Participants subjectively reported any sensory effects. Vulvar erythema scores for the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, perineum, buttocks, left medial thigh, and right medial thigh assessed after both menstrual cycles were not statistically different between groups or between the two different products. A low incidence of itching and burning occurred in both groups without statistical significance; none of the participants experienced a recurrent or new genital infection. These preliminary results show that participants with recent genital infections included in clinical studies do not exhibit greater vulvar erythema or sensory effects than participants without recent genital infection. The study showed that the safety profile of the products tested remained acceptable in women with recent genital infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Papilloma and polyoma DNA tumor virus sequences in female genital tumors.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and BKV, JCV, and SV40 polyomaviruses (PYVs) are oncogenic viruses associated with different human tumors. Our aim was to determine if PYV and HPV sequences could be detected in human genital tumors. HPV types 6b, 11, 16, and 18 and PYV were investigated in 22 genital tumor samples and the corresponding adjacent normal tissues, by PCR and filter hybridization. HPV and PYV sequences were also searched in six sperm fluid and four peripheral blood cell (PBC) samples. HPV-16 sequences were revealed in 7 of 14 cervical tumors and 1 of 1 vaginal adenocarcinoma, whereas 1 of 14 cervical carcinoma tested positive for HPV-18. Interestingly, each normal cervical tissue surrounding the neoplasm obtained from the same patient was positive for HPV type-16 and -18 with the same prevalence detected in tumors. BKV sequences were found in 9 of 14 cervical tumors, 1 of 7 vulvar tumors, and 1 of 1 adenocarcinoma, but also in normal tissues from cervix (13 of 14), vulva (6 of 7), sperm fluid (5 of 6) and PBC (3 of 4) samples. SV40 sequences were detected in 1 of 14 normal cervical tissue, 2 of 6 sperm fluids and 1 of 4 PBCs. None of the samples were JCV positive. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation reporting on the simultaneous association of both HPV and PYV with human genital tumors. These results suggest that PYV, together with HPV, may be involved as a cofactor in the onset/progression of human genital tumors, and raise the possibility that PYV act synergistically with HPV to enhance their pathogenicity in vivo. In addition, HPV and PYV may complement each other in infecting human genital tissues.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed2000

Selection of drug-resistant variants in the female genital tract of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected women receiving antiretroviral therapy.

We investigated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 RNA, proviral DNA, and antiretroviral drug-resistant variants in cervicovaginal secretions of HIV-1-infected women receiving antiretroviral therapy. The prevalence of detectable HIV-1 RNA in genital secretions was inversely related to the number of antiretroviral drugs taken by the patients. Proviral DNA was detected in approximately half of all samples of cervicovaginal secretions from HIV-1-infected women, regardless of the presence or absence of HIV-1 RNA in cervicovaginal secretions and of the antiretroviral regimen. In cervicovaginal secretions of most women with persisting genital viral replication, HIV variants exhibiting mutations associated with drug resistance against protease and reverse-transcriptase pol genes were found. Our observations indicate that antiretroviral therapy is not effective in purging the female genital tract of cell-associated provirus and that antiretroviral drugs that penetrate the female genital tract at suboptimal concentrations exert a potent selective pressure on genital HIV variants when local replication of free HIV-1 RNA persists.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A prospective study of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive women: correlations with CD4 cell count and plasma HIV-1 RNA level.

A cohort of 217 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive women was observed prospectively from 1996 through 2000 to determine the frequency of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) disease (symptomatic and asymptomatic) and to correlate those findings with HIV-1-related immunosuppression (absolute CD4 cell counts and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels). Participants underwent twice-yearly pelvic examinations, including cultures of cervicovaginal specimens and swab specimens from genital lesions, if lesions were present. Of the participants, 72 (33%) had genital HSV-2 infection diagnosed on the basis of either history alone (23 [32%]) or positive culture results (49 [68%]). The 72 women who had genital herpes diagnosed completed 242 total visits. Of these visits, positive HSV-2 culture results were noted at 80 (33%); at 23 (29%) of the 80 visits at which there were HSV-2-positive cultures, culture results were not associated with a clinically apparent genital lesion. Positive HSV-2 culture results occurred more frequently for samples obtained from patients with higher plasma HIV-1 RNA levels (P=.019) and lower CD4 cell counts (P<.001).

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Effects of cationic liposome-encapsulated doxycycline on experimental Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in mice.

In a previous study, we demonstrated that cationic liposome-encapsulated doxycycline (CaL-Dox) was two-fold more effective than free doxycycline against Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro. Here, we evaluated the effects of two CaL-Dox regimens in comparison with unencapsulated doxycycline on the course of chlamydial genital infection in mice. Progesterone-treated, female CF-1 mice were challenged intravaginally with 1.2 x 10(5) inclusion-forming units (ifu) of C. trachomatis. Two days post-infection, the animals were divided into four treatment groups for im injection of doxycycline at 10 mg/kg body weight bd for 3 (3 Dox) or 7 days (7 Dox), or of CaL-Dox at the same dose level for 3 (3 CaL-Dox) or 7 days (7 CaL-Dox) consecutively. An infected fifth group served as a control and was given an empty CaL preparation. C. trachomatis were isolated after five blind passages from 82% of infected control mice, 61.4% of 3 Dox, 52.2% of 3 CaL-Dox, 29% of 7 Dox and 20% of 7 CaL-Dox animals. Histopathological reactions were found in various tissues of the genital tract in 79.5% of infected control mice, 80.9% of 3 Dox, 65.2% of 3 CaL-Dox, 47.1% of 7 Dox and 25.7% of 7 CaL-Dox animals. Total antichlamydial antibody titres were lower in 7 CaL-Dox mice than in all the other groups (P < 0.005). The results showed that progesterone-treated CF-1 mice are suitable for investigation of both lower and upper genital tract infection with a lymphogranuloma venereum biovar strain of C. trachomatis. Neither 7 CaL-Dox nor 3 CaL-Dox treatment was more effective than unencapsulated 7 Dox doses in the bacteriological cure of chlamydial genital infection in mice. However, 7 CaL-Dox prevented tissue damage in the genital tract significantly more than all the other regimens (P < 0.05). These results suggest that liposome-encapsulated doxycycline, particularly CaL-Dox, may have potential for the clinical treatment of chlamydial infections.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy of clinical diagnosis of genital ulcer disease.

In Africa, establishment of an accurate clinical diagnosis in cases of genital ulcer disease is difficult owing to atypical presentation of ulcerations and mixed infections. This is compounded by the frequent lack of suitable laboratory facilities. In 240 cases of genital ulcer disease among mineworkers in Carletonville, South Africa, this study endeavored to correlate the clinical diagnosis with laboratory findings. Clinical accuracy and positive and negative predictive values were determined for each type of genital ulcer disease encountered. Overall, the accuracy of clinical diagnosis was 68% for single infections, 80% for chancroid, 55% for primary syphilis, 27% for lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), and 22% for genital herpes. Adequate laboratory facilities are indispensible for the establishment of an accurate etiologic diagnosis of genital ulcer disease and thus the institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Chancroid↗
PubMed2002

The impact of HIV infection and immunodeficiency on human papillomavirus type 6 or 11 infection and on genital warts.

BACKGROUND: HIV infection and associated immunodeficiency are known to alter the course of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and of associated diseases. GOAL: This study investigated the association between HIV and HPV and genital warts. STUDY DESIGN: HPV testing and physical examinations were performed in two large prospective studies: the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) and the HIV Epidemiology Research Study (HERS). Statistical methods incorporating dependencies of longitudinal data were used to examine the relationship between HIV and HPV and genital warts. RESULTS: A total of 1008 HIV-seronegative and 2930 HIV-seropositive women were enrolled in the two studies. The prevalence of HPV 6 or 11 was 5.6 times higher in HIV-seropositive women in the WIHS and 3.6 times higher in the HERS. Genital wart prevalence increased by a factor of 3.2 in the WIHS and 2.7 in the HERS in HIV-seropositive women. In the WIHS, infection with HPV type 6 or 11, in comparison with no HPV infection, was associated with odds of genital wart prevalence of 5.1 (95% CI: 2.9-8.8), 8.8 (95% CI: 6.1-12.8), and 12.8 (95% CI: 8.8-18.8) in HIV-seronegative women, HIV-seropositive women with > or =201 CD4 cells/microl, and HIV-seropositive women with < or =200 CD4 cells/microl, respectively. In the HERS, infection with HPV type 6 or 11 was associated with odds of 2.7 (95% CI: 1.6-4.6), 4.9 (95% CI: 3.2-7.7), and 5.3 (95% CI: 3.3-8.5) in these same groups. Other HPV types showed a similar dose-response relation, but of substantially lower magnitude and statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection and immunodeficiency synergistically modified the relation between HPV 6 or 11 infection and genital wart prevalence.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1985

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of anaerobic bacteria isolated from female genital tract infections.

Certain species or subspecies of anaerobic bacteria are isolated with higher frequency from female genital tract infections than from other anatomic sites. To gain susceptibility data more specific to the treatment of these infections, nine antimicrobial agents were tested by an agar dilution technique against 230 anaerobic bacteria isolated solely from obstetric and gynecological infections. These genital isolates were, in general, very susceptible to imipenem (most active, inhibiting all gram-negative rods at less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml), clindamycin (all isolates inhibited at less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml), metronidazole (all gram-negative rods inhibited at less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml), and chloramphenicol. Penicillin G had generally low activity against Bacteroides spp., not restricted to just the Bacteroides fragilis group, although it was very active against gram-positive species. Bacteroides bivius, a species uniquely common in female genital infections, was particularly resistant (90% MIC, 64 U/ml). Also, the Bacteroides melaninogenicus isolates were less susceptible than previously reported for isolates not exclusively from genital sites. Compared with moxalactam, cefotaxime, and cefoperazone, cefoxitin usually demonstrated equal or greater activity against most Bacteroides spp., with the exception of greater activity of moxalactam against B. fragilis (formerly subsp. fragilis). Resistance to moxalactam was observed among strains of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, a common genital isolate. Overall, the activities of these four drugs were not as predictable as those observed for clindamycin, metronidazole, chloramphenicol, and imipenem.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1988

Susceptibility to reinfection after a primary chlamydial genital infection.

Female guinea pigs which had been infected genitally with the agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis were challenged at various times after infection with fresh inocula to determine the duration of immunity resulting from the primary infection. At 30 days after infection, most guinea pigs were resistant to reinfection, as indicated by the inability to isolate chlamydiae from cervical swabs. However, at 77, 155, and 294 days, all animals became reinfected, although the course of the infection was abbreviated and of lower intensity. When various immune parameters were examined, a decrease in antibodies in both serum (immunoglobulin G [( IgG]) and genital secretions (IgA, IgG) was observed after 30 days. A decrease in antibodies to the major outer membrane protein and an 84K component was noted in serum. In genital secretions, IgA antibodies to all major chlamydial components declined markedly after 30 days. Cell-mediated immunity as measured by proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes to guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis antigen also was at a peak response 30 days after infection and decreased thereafter. Thus, loss of complete immunity could not be associated with a particular immune parameter. When genital secretions were examined 14 days after the challenge infection, IgA antibody levels to the lipopolysaccharide and 61K protein components had increased in intensity, whereas other antibodies were relatively low. In addition, complete immunity to a third infection was not increased in duration when animals had recovered from two previous genital infections.

Animals↗