Persistence of Trichomonas vaginalis serostatus in men over time

Abstract

Purpose Previous epidemiologic studies have observed positive associations between Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) serostatus and both prostate cancer (PCa) risk and mortality. However, only a few small older studies have examined Tv antibody persistence over time, all of which were composed mainly of female patients. Therefore, we examined Tv antibody persistence over time, as well as intra-individual variability, among middle- to older-aged men in the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS). Methods We tested baseline and repeat plasma specimens (collected 1–3 years later) from 248 male participants for Tv antibodies. We used the same enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as in previous studies of Tv serostatus and PCa. Results At baseline, 46 (18.5%) participants were seropositive for Tv infection. Seventy-six percent of these men were still seropositive 1–3 years later. A similar proportion of men “seroconverted” (4.0%) as “seroreverted” (4.4%), all of whom had absorbance values near the cut-off point for seropositivity. Overall, substantial agreement was observed between baseline and repeat serostatus (kappa=0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.60–0.83). Conclusion Tv seropositivity was largely persistent between plasma specimens collected 1–3 years apart from middle- to older-aged men. These high levels of persistence are similar to those observed for other sexually transmitted infections frequently investigated in relation to PCa.

A prospective study of Trichomonas vaginalis and prostate cancer risk among African American men

“…Alternatively, analysis of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian cancer screening trial found Tv seropositivity significantly associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia [ 9 ], suggesting Tv may exacerbate lower urinary tract symptom severity and possibly lead to a PC detection. [ 10 ] Tv seropositivity is relatively stable over time [ 10 ], limiting the ability to identify an etiologically relevant time of exposure. Our prospective analysis found no association between baseline Tv seropositivity and future PC risk, and further efforts are needed to define past vs. recent Tv infection and to separate pathophysiology from the detection of PC.…”

Trichomonas vaginalis infection and risk of prostate cancer: associations by disease aggressiveness and race/ethnicity in the PLCO Trial

“…Scores were then assigned to each participant by comparing their P/N ratio (i.e., their mean absorbance divided by the plate-specific mean 0 score absorbance) to the plate-specific control panel cut-off values. Participants with scores ≥3+ were considered seropositive [10–12, 21]. …”