ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of urogenital chlamydial infections in women from Eastern Slovakia and to compare the occurrence in women with and without clinical signs of disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined a total of 1978 women from Eastern Slovakia for the presence of C. trachomatis over a three year period. Antichlamydial antibodies of classes IgG and IgA were detected by ELISA while PCR was applied to detect pathogen. RESULTS: 3.6 % of the population had presence of antibodies while 10.1 % of the women showed presence of bacteria by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Obtained results when compared with clinical examination revealed clear distinction, which was age dependent. Lower age categories were more likely affected by acute infection with positivity for IgA and IgG antibodies as well as PCR. Middle age categories showed significantly higher level of IgG antibodies in comparison to IgA, while pathogen was readily detected by PCR. In women older than 51 years the results reflected more likely a past infection that is presence of only IgG and negative PCR (Tab. 4, Ref. 18).
