ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is the most prevalent cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) recognized throughout the world. The aim of this study is to determine different genotypes of genital C. trachomatis and the association between the serological markers of inflammation and genotypes of C. trachomatis in sexually active women (n=80) attending Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Isfahan, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive study, endocervical swabs were collected from 80 women. There were 17 endocervical samples that showed positivity for C. trachomatis by plasmid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using KL1 and KL2 primers. The omp1 gene was directly amplified in 17 plasmid PCR positive samples and was used to differentiate the clinical genotypes by omp1 gene PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The levels of IgG and IgA specific to C. trachmatis and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated. RESULTS: Based on restriction-digestion patterns, four genotypes were identified. Genotypes E (35.3%) and F (35.3%) were the most prevalent, followed by D/Da (23.5%) and K (5.9%). There was no significant association between genotypes and the presence of IgG and CRP. Patients infected with genotype E showed a serological marker of chronic inflammation, i.e. IgA seropositivity, significantly more than patients infected with other genotypes (p=0.042). CONCLUSION: Nested PCR could increase the sensitivity of omp1 amplification. Based on the presence of IgA, chronic C. trachomatis infections were observed more frequently among genotype E-infected patients in our population.
ABSTRACT
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide, but current data concerning the prevalence of CT among women in Iran is scarce. Data regarding the frequency of CT infection among Iranian women can help to justify the implementation of a national CT screening program that can reduce the high morbidity associated with sequelae of CT infections by treating infected women. Endocervical secretions from 123 married women (20-55 years) with cervicitis were tested by a PCR-EIA method using primers to amplify a CT-specific plasmid. The digoxigenin-labeled amplicon was measured by hybridization to a biotin-labeled probe and a strepavidin-coated plate, followed by an enzyme-linked colorimetric analysis. Overall frequency of CT infection among women was 17% (21/123). The range of CT frequency among various age groups was 12-25%. The 31-40-year-age group comprised the majority (49%) of CT positive samples, followed by 20-30 year group (33%). Although the 20-to-30-year-old women reported the highest frequency of STI history, they had the lowest relative frequency of CT infection (12%). There is a high frequency of CT infection among women with cervicitis in Tehran, Iran, thus indicating a necessity to implement a routine CT screening program in the major cities of Iran and possibly nationwide. Identification of CT-infected women may prevent its spread, and thereby reduce the high morbidity associated with CT infections among women in Iran.
