ABSTRACT
Chlamydia Trachomatis infection in pregnant women may be related to variety of perinatal complications as conjunctivitis and pneumonia. Our aim was to detect C. Trachomatis as a causative agent among infants having the clinical picture of afebrile pneumonia and to identify the clinical manifestations of Chlamydia Trachomatis pneumonia. A total of 40 patients aged 2 weeks to 6 months with chronic afebrile chest manifestations and 20 apparently healthy subjects with matched age were involved in this work. Throat swabs for detection of C. trachomatis inclusion bodies by Giemsa stain, direct fluorescent antibody test [DFA] and serologic tests for detection of IgM and IgG against Chlamydia Trachomatis by ELISA were done. All the 18 cases which were IgM positive [as a gold standard] also, were positive for IgG rising level but only 15 cases were positive DFA among 18 IgM positive cases. All cases that were IgM negative also were negative for IgG rising level. The sensitivity of Giemsa stain was 55.6% and specificity was 100%. On the other hand the sensitivity and specificity of IgG positive rising level after 2 weeks were 100% but DFA were 83.3% and 100% respectively. The serologic tests for detection of IgM and IgG rising level against Chlamydia Trachomatis by ELISA have the advantages of low cost and suitability for testing large number of specimens