Cryptic Plasmid Amplification of Chlamydia trachomatis at a Korean Health Center for Female Commercial Sex Workers / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease. It is generally accepted that female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) are at an increased risk of incurring sexually transmitted disease (STD) because of their high numbers of sexual partners. Even though chlamydial infections in FCSWs have been linked with serious public health problems, there are very few reports about the prevalence of chlamydial infection in FCSWs in Korea. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of chlamydial infection in FCSWs by performing cryptic plasmid gene amplification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNAs were extracted from the endo- cervical cotton swabs taken from 410 FCSWs in one Korean health center from April 2004 to August 2004; these FCSWs had visited there for periodic STD check ups. The human beta-globin and cryptic plasmid of Chlamydia trachomatis from the genomic DNA were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. RESULTS: Four hundred and ten FCSWs (mean age 25+/-6 years) were enrolled. A total of 410 endo-cervical samples from the FCSWs showed beta-globin bands in 1.5% agarose gel, and all the samples were included in this study. The cryptic plasmid was identified in 82 of the 410 FCSWs (20%). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the FCSWs were a core group that spread Chlamydia. To promote public health and for cost effectiveness, massive screenings with gene amplification methods for the FCSWs to detect chlamydial infection are needed.