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Volume 61
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Article

Community-Based Pilot Study of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Urogenital Infections Among Young Adults in the North and the Central Coast of Portugal

by
Rafaela Rodrigues
1,2,3,
Sónia Loureiro
3,
Inês João
4,
Inês Jordão
5,
Maria José Borrego
4,
Carlos Catalão
6,
Ana Rita Silva
3,
Carlos Sousa
3 and
Nuno Vale
1,2,7,*
1
PerMed Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
2
CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
3
Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Unilabs Portugal, Centro Empresarial Lionesa Porto, Rua Lionesa, 4465-671 Leça do Balio, Portugal
4
National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal
5
Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
6
Roche Sistemas de Diagnósticos, Estrada Nacional 249-1, 2720-413 Amadora, Portugal
7
Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Medicina 2025, 61(10), 1749; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61101749
Submission received: 20 July 2025 / Revised: 27 August 2025 / Accepted: 16 September 2025 / Published: 25 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Epidemiology & Public Health)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are among the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with the highest incidence in individuals aged up to 25 years. However, data from Portugal remain scarce. This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to assess the prevalence of urogenital CT and NG infections in young adults in Portugal and to identify the major CT genotypes circulating in this population. Materials and Methods: A total of 152 young adults aged 18–25 years were recruited over a six-month period from universities, a sports club, and a coworking space. Urine samples were tested using the Cobas 4800 CT/NG assay (Roche, Rotkreuz, Switzerland). CT-positive samples were further genotyped based on ompA gene diversity to identify major urogenital genotypes (D to K). All participants provided informed consent and completed a questionnaire on demographic characteristics and risk behaviors. Results: Of the 152 urine samples analyzed, five tested positive for CT, one for NG, and one sample showed co-infection with both pathogens. None of the participants with positive results reported symptoms. Genotyping of CT-positive samples identified ompA genotype E in three cases. Conclusions: Despite limitations such as small sample size and convenience sampling, this pilot study offers preliminary insights into the prevalence and genetic diversity of CT and NG infections among young adults in Portugal. The findings highlight the need for expanded screening programs, site-specific sample collection, and culture-based diagnostics to support evidence-based public health strategies targeting these infections.
Keywords: sexually transmitted infections; chlamydial infections; gonococcal infections; dual-screening; ompA-genotyping sexually transmitted infections; chlamydial infections; gonococcal infections; dual-screening; ompA-genotyping

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MDPI and ACS Style

Rodrigues, R.; Loureiro, S.; João, I.; Jordão, I.; Borrego, M.J.; Catalão, C.; Silva, A.R.; Sousa, C.; Vale, N. Community-Based Pilot Study of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Urogenital Infections Among Young Adults in the North and the Central Coast of Portugal. Medicina 2025, 61, 1749. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61101749

AMA Style

Rodrigues R, Loureiro S, João I, Jordão I, Borrego MJ, Catalão C, Silva AR, Sousa C, Vale N. Community-Based Pilot Study of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Urogenital Infections Among Young Adults in the North and the Central Coast of Portugal. Medicina. 2025; 61(10):1749. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61101749

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rodrigues, Rafaela, Sónia Loureiro, Inês João, Inês Jordão, Maria José Borrego, Carlos Catalão, Ana Rita Silva, Carlos Sousa, and Nuno Vale. 2025. "Community-Based Pilot Study of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Urogenital Infections Among Young Adults in the North and the Central Coast of Portugal" Medicina 61, no. 10: 1749. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61101749

APA Style

Rodrigues, R., Loureiro, S., João, I., Jordão, I., Borrego, M. J., Catalão, C., Silva, A. R., Sousa, C., & Vale, N. (2025). Community-Based Pilot Study of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Urogenital Infections Among Young Adults in the North and the Central Coast of Portugal. Medicina, 61(10), 1749. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61101749

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