TY - JOUR AU - Sorvillo, Frank AU - Smith, Lisa AU - Kerndt, Peter AU - Ash, Lawrence T1 - Trichomonas vaginalis, HIV, and African-Americans T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2001 VL - 7 IS - 6 SP - 927 SN - 1080-6059 AB - Trichomonas vaginalis may be emerging as one of the most important cofactors in amplifying HIV transmission, particularly in African-American communities of the United States. In a person co-infected with HIV, the pathology induced by T. vaginalis infection can increase HIV shedding. Trichomonas infection may also act to expand the portal of entry for HIV in an HIV-negative person. Studies from Africa have suggested that T. vaginalis infection may increase the rate of HIV transmission by approximately twofold. Available data indicate that T. vaginalis is highly prevalent among African-Americans in major urban centers of the United States and is often the most common sexually transmitted infection in black women. Even if T. vaginalis increases the risk of HIV transmission by a small amount, this could translate into an important amplifying effect since Trichomonas is so common. Substantial HIV transmission may be attributable to T. vaginalis in African-American communities of the United States. KW - Trichomonas vaginalis KW - HIV transmission, KW - United States DO - 10.3201/eid0706.010603 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/7/6/01-0603_article ER - End of Reference