Mannose-binding lectin 2 (Mbl2) gene polymorphisms are related to protein plasma levels, but not to heart disease and infection by Chlamydia

The presence of the single nucleotide polymorphisms in exon 1 of the mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) gene was evaluated in a sample of 159 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (71 patients undergoing valve replacement surgery and 300 control subjects) to investigate a possible association between polymorphisms and heart disease with Chlamydia infection. The identification of the alleles B and D was performed using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and of the allele C was accomplished through PCR assays followed by digestion with the restriction enzyme. The comparative analysis of allelic and genotypic frequencies between the three groups did not reveal any significant difference, even when related to previous Chlamydia infection. Variations in the MBL plasma levels were influenced by the presence of polymorphisms, being significantly higher in the group of cardiac patients, but without representing a risk for the disease. The results showed that despite MBL2 gene polymorphisms being associated with the protein plasma levels, the polymorphisms were not enough to predict the development of heart disease, regardless of infection with both species of Chlamydia.

Evaluation of direct immunofluorescence test for diagnosis of upper respiratory tract infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae causes a variety of respiratory infections and is involved in cardiovascular diseases. Diagnosis of C. pneumoniae infection currently relies on antibody detection by microimmunofluorescence (MIF), which has limited use, and is the retrospective diagnosis for acute infection. OBJECTIVE: Find an effective early diagnosis of acute upper respiratory infection, or use in combination with MIF to accurately diagnose the infection by C. pneumoniae. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) was developed to detect C. pneumoniae in nasopharyngeal specimens obtained from patients with upper respiratory tract infection, and normal individuals. IgM and IgG antibodies against C. pneumoniae by MIF were determined for evaluation of the detected C. pneumoniae and seroconversion. RESULTS: DIF gave positive results in 29 of 37 (78.4%) samples from 31 patients. Fifteen samples positive by DIF illustrated antibody titers interpreted as acute C. pneumoniae infection, and eight DIF positive samples showed antibody titers of chronic infection. Negative results by both DIF and MIF were found in two patients and 23 of 25 by DIF but 20 of 25 by MIF in normal subjects. Five paired sera subsequently collected from three of the 31 patients illustrated seroconversion 2-4 months after the primary specimen collection, which gave positive results by DIF but negative for antibodies. Significant association was found between C. pneumoniae detection by DIF and antibodies by MIF when analysis was done in the group of patients and normal subjects (p < 0.001; Pearson chi-square test). CONCLUSION: DIF could be an alternative assay for early diagnosis of C. pneumoniae infection, and may be used in combination with MIF for accurate diagnosis of acute C. pneumoniae infection.

Diagnostic utility of serologic markers for genital chlamydial infection in STD patients in Chennai, India.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of serological markers for C. trachomatis in different clinical groups of STD patients. METHODS: Blood and genital swab specimens were collected from symptomatic STD patients (n=143) attending the STD out patient clinic at the Institute of STDs, Government General hospital, Chennai who enrolled for the study. Serological determination for IgM, IgA and IgG antibodies to C. trachomatis was done using commercial kits. PCR analysis was performed on genital swab samples by using plasmid and major outer membrane protein (MOMP) based primers and patients who were positive by both PCR assays were considered as proven cases of C. trachomatis infection. The serological marker positivity was analysed with PCR positivity. RESULTS: Serologic positivity by IgM, IgA and IgG was 22.4%, 28.7% and 58.7% respectively. The PCR analysis showed 44 (30.8%) cases with confirmed C. trachomatis infection. Seropositivity for IgM (34.1% (15/44) vs. 17.2% (17/99); P<0.05) as well as for IgA (40.9% (18/44) vs. 23.2% (23/99); P<0.05) significantly correlated to PCR positivity, while significant correlation was not seen with IgG positivity. The overall seropositivity (IgM/IgA/IgG) in the study population was 68.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The observations of the present study indicate a high exposure rate to chlamydial infection in STD clinic patients in India. The study also suggests the usefulness of serology instead of PCR to trace chlamydial etiology, especially in deep-seated upper genital tract diseases and to facilitate better clinical management as there was good correlation between serology and PCR positivity.

Seroprevalence of Chalmydia trachomatis infection amongst patients with pelvic inflammatory diseases and infertility.

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease in female population. This infection can be diagnosed both by culture and serology. The present study evaluated the seroprevalence of chlamydial infection in patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (ND) and infertility and in control population of healthy normal females. The seroprevalence was found to be 82.7% in patients and 32% in controls by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) for any one or more class of antichlamydial antibodies (IgG/IgM/ IgA). The study demonstrates the importance of serology to monitor trends of chlamydial infections in women with PID and infertility.

Prevalencia de anticuerpos anti-Chlamydia trachomatis y anti-Neisseria gonorrhoeae en grupos de individuos de la población mexicana / Prevalence of antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Mexican populations

OBJETIVO: Estimar la prevalencia de infección por Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) y Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) en grupos de individuos con diferente riesgo para infecciones de transmisión sexual. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal multicéntrico efectuado en el Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, de la Ciudad de México, de enero de 1992 a diciembre de 1993, en el que se estudiaron 945 individuos en edad reproductiva, 585 mujeres y 360 hombres. Según su riesgo para infecciones de transmisión sexual se clasificaron en grupos de alto y bajo riesgo. Los de alto riesgo incluyeron mujeres infértiles con daño tubario, mujeres con embarazo ectópico o aborto, hombres infértiles, pacientes con VIH/SIDA, hombres homo o bisexuales y trabajadoras del sexo comercial (TSC). Los de bajo riesgo: mujeres primigestas, hombres fértiles y mujeres infértiles sin daño tubario. Se determinó en duplicado IgG e IgA anti-NG y anti-CT en suero, por análisis inmunoenzimático, utilizando como antígeno el pili de NG y la fracción L1 de CT. Se calcularon porcentajes. RESULTADOS: En mujeres la prevalencia para NG fue IgG 13.7 por ciento e IgA 14.3 por ciento, y para CT fue IgG 11.4 por ciento e IgA 4.4 por ciento. En hombres, NG 3.3 por ciento y 13.3 por ciento, respectivamente, y para CT 7.2 por ciento y 5.5 por ciento, respectivamente. En TSC se encontró NG en 31.2 por ciento y 28.4 por ciento, respectivamente, y para CT 25.0 por ciento y 5.7 por ciento, respectivamente. En mujeres con infertilidad por daño tubario, NG 5.6 por ciento y 9.8 por ciento, respectivamente, y CT 8.4 por ciento y 1.4 por ciento, respectivamente. En 110 primigestas jóvenes, NG 4.5 por ciento y 10.0 por ciento, respectivamente, y CT 3.6 por ciento y 9.1 por ciento, respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: Estos datos confirman la prevalencia elevada de Neisseria gonorrhoeae y Chlamydia trachomatis en trabajadoras del sexo comercial y en hombres homo/bisexuales, pero no en otros grupos de alto riesgo como las mujeres infértiles, con aborto o embarazo ectópico.

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in rural Thai women.

A cross sectional study was designed to investigate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among different groups of rural women in the northeast Thailand. The presence of chlamydial antigens in endocervical swabs was detected by ELISA. The prevalences of Chlamydia trachomatis were 6.8% (31/485), 5.2% (24/466) and 6.7% (12/179) in women attending antenatal, postpartum and family planning clinics respectively. The average prevalences of C. trachomatis among hospital-based and community-based women were 6.1% (67/1,103) and 3.6% (15/411) respectively. In addition, the prevalences of some pathogens including Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis, Treponema pallidum and Neisseria gonorrhoea among hospital-based and community-based women were 14.2, 2.8, 0.7, 0.2 and 10.9, 5.1, 2.7, 0.0% respectively. It was concluded that C. trachomatis was a problem of woman's reproductive health.

Epidemiología serológica de chlamydia trachomatis en mujeres que asisten a un servicio de planificación familiar / Serologic epidemiology of chlamydia trachomatis infection among fertile women attending a birth control facility

C. trachomatis is an important cause of sexually transmitted diseases, being mainly associated to cervicitis or urethritis among female and male patients, respectively. This study was designed to evaluate the frecuency of C. trachomatis infection among female patients attending a bith control facility using chlamydia IgG and IgM antibody detection, and to correlate this findings with the presence of C. trachomatis at the endocervix. Two hundred fertile women attending a hostital associated birth control facitity were evaluated by indirect microimmunofluorescence (IMIF) to detect circulating antibodies and with direct microimmunofluorescence (DMIF) to detect C. trachomatis in endocervix. C. trachomatis was present in 24 percent (44/200) of endocervical samples. IgG antibodies were equally prevalent in both DMIF positive group had higher antibody titers than the negative group (54,1 vs 32,9 percent, p < 0,05). Moreover, the DMIF positive group was associated with a higher frecuency of chlamydia IgM antibodies than the DMIF negative group. (97,5 vs 4,6 percent, p < 0,0001). These results indicate that C. trachomatis is a frequent agent of infection among women asking to be included in a birth control programm and also suggest that epidemiological surveillance studies are needed

Rapid diagnosis of chlamydial infection in patients with pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility by immunoperoxidase assay.

The study describes the value of specific chlamydial IgM antibody detection by indirect immunoperoxidase assay (IPA) for early confirmation of cases of primary infertility and pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID) of chlamydial aetiology. Forty-eight infertile women and forty-six women with acute PID were screened. Seven (14.2%) infertility patients and twenty-one (45.6%) PID patients had positive titers for chlamydia trachomatis. The difference in incidence of antichlamydial antibodies in the study group as compared with control was statistically significant (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that in the absence of tissue culture facilities, detection of specific chlamydial IgM antibody is a sensitive serological marker for specific diagnosis of chlamydial infection.

Seroepidemiology of chlamydial infection among a sexually-active population in Barbados

During a two-year period, sera from 1179 patients with urogenital tract symptoms and from 256 controls were tested for IgG and IgA antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, using a commercially prepared indirect immunoperoxidase assay. Of the patient sera, 1051 (89//) were from female patients and 128 (11//) were from males. Specimens were received from patients attending private practitioners (424), government polyclinics (348), the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (206), the Barbados Family Planning Association (117) and various other source (84). Nine hundred and fifty-nine of specimens (81//) from all patients had IgG titres of 64 or greater, and 441 (37//) had IgA titres of 16 or greater. A lower proportion of male patients (43//) than female patients (61//) had IgG titres of 128 or greater. Among 76 control females attending the antenatal clinic, IgG were detected in 76//and IgA in 16//, while among 75 adult blood donors, IgG was detected in 70//and IgA in 39//. A group comprising 97 asymptomatic children aged 9 months to 13 years, and 8 adolescents aged 14 - 18 years was also studied. IgG antibodies (titre ñ 64) were detected in 13.4//of children and in 50//of the adolescents. IgA antibodies were detected in only 1//of children and adolscents. Antibodies were not detected in children under the age of 5 years. The detection of antibodies by indirect immunoperoxidase assay in such a high proportion of the population suggests that this method is of little value for diagnosis of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydial serology and laparoscopic findings in infertile women.

Fifty-seven infertile women were studied for presence of chlamydial infection by detecting antichlamydial antibodies using indirect immunoperoxidase assay technique. Laparoscopy was performed in all of them. Inflammatory changes in fallopian tubes were present irrespective of serological status. Thus no rigid criteria for carrying out laparoscopy can be made. A high index of suspicion is required for detection of chlamydial infection as it runs an indolent course with no specific symptoms.

Adverse foetal outcome in specific IgM positive Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy.

A study was undertaken to determine the adverse foetal outcome in antichlamydial IgM positive asymptomatic pregnant females. An indirect immunoperoxidase assay was done to detect IgM in 78 apparently normal asymptomatic pregnant women during the third trimester and follow up was done till delivery to study the effect of chlamydial infection on foetal outcome. A total of 28 (35.9%) women were positive for antichlamydial IgM while only 3.33 per cent asymptomatic non-pregnant normal women (controls) were positive. 28.7 per cent IgM positive mothers delivered low birth weight (LBW) babies (P less than 0.05), 9.7 per cent had premature labour (PTL) and 4.7 per cent had intrauterine death (IUD). The findings are significant as none of the IgM negative mothers had PTL and IUD and only 2.6 per cent had LBW babies.