Infection by hepatitis B and C virus in female and transsexual Greek prostitutes with serological evidence of active syphilis
Tsakris, A.; Kyriakis, K.P.; Chryssou, S.; Papoutsakis, G.
International Journal of Std and Aids 8(11): 697-699
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0956-4624 PMID: 9363544 DOI: 10.1258/0956462971919075Document Number: 271038
A serologic study of 230 female and 43 male-to-female transsexual Greek prostitutes from the Greater Athens area failed to confirm an association between hepatitis infection and active syphilis. Study participants were recruited at presentation to the Ministry of Health venereal diseases clinic for periodic medical examination. Rapid plasma reagin and treponemal tests indicated 4.3% of female prostitutes and 20.9% of transsexuals had active syphilis infection. The rates of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus were 50.4% and 3.9%, respectively, among female prostitutes and 65.1% and 4.7%, respectively, among transsexuals. Stratified analysis failed to detect any significant association between syphilis, hepatitis B surface antigen carriership, and exposure to hepatitis B or C infection within the two groups of sex workers. In addition, there was no significant association between syphilis, age of the sex worker, and years of legalized prostitution. It appears that, in these two populations, a syphilis diagnosis leads to intensive self-protective prevention measures against other sexually transmitted infections.