Seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and herpes simplex virus
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Estimation of the seroprevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 in the English population
IRAS ID
124119
Contact name
Anthony Nardone
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Public Health England
Research summary
BACKGROUND
Chlamydia trachomatis (‘chlamydia’) is the most commonly diagnosed bacterial sexually transmitted infection in England. Rates of chlamydia testing and diagnosis have increased over the past decade, especially following the full implementation of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme in 2008.Having antibodies to an infection indicate that someone has been previously infected, even if they have been treated, or the infection has cleared on its own. By measuring the proportion of the population with antibodies to an infection in their blood, we can estimate the proportion that has ever been exposed to antibody-inducing infections.
The project aims to investigate trends in exposure to chlamydia among 16-44 year olds in England, and to identify factors associated with having antibodies to these infections. The findings will be used to explore the impact of chlamydia control in England in the context of changes in sexual behaviour.
STUDY DESIGN
This project uses information and stored blood samples from the Health Survey for England (HSE, a series of annual, nationally representative samples of the general population).We will test blood samples from the HSE for antibodies to chlamydia. Samples from three periods will be tested, so that we can investigate changes in exposure to infection over time: 1994-1996, 2001-2002 and 2008-2012.
We will also test samples for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-2 is the main cause of genital herpes, which is the second most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted virus in England. HSV-2 is almost exclusively sexually transmitted and risk of acquisition is closely related to sexual behaviour. Having antibodies to HSV-2 therefore provides a biological (as opposed to a self-reported) marker of sexual behaviour. This information will help us to explore whether any changes seen in the proportion of the population with chlamydia antibodies are due to chlamydia screening or changes in the sexual behaviour of the population.
Characteristics of people with and without antibodies to chlamydia and HSV-2 will be compared in order to identify factors associated with having antibodies to chlamydia or HSV-2 (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual behaviour, alcohol use).
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0304
Date of REC Opinion
28 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion