High titers of Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies in Brazilian women with tubal occlusion or previous ectopic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum chlamydia antibody titers (CATs) in tubal occlusion or previous ectopic pregnancy and the associated risk factors. METHODS: The study population consisted of 55 women wih tubal damage and 55 parous women. CAT was measured using the whole-cell inclusion immunofluorescence test and cervical chlamydial DNA detected by PCR. Odds ratios were calculated to assess variables associated with C. trachomatis infection. RESULTS: The prevalence of chlamydial antibodies and antibody titers in women with tubal occlusion or previous ectopic pregnancy was significantly higher (P < .01) than in parous women. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that chlamydia IgG antibodies were associated with tubal damage and with a larger number of lifetime sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: Chlamydia antibody titers were associated with tubal occlusion, prior ectopic pregnancy, and with sexual behavior, suggesting that a chlamydia infection was the major contributor to the tubal damage in these women.

Prevalence and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in adolescent females and young women in central Brazil.

In order to determine the prevalence and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in adolescent females and young women in central Brazil, 296 subjects attending two public health services were evaluated. The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis infection, as determined using polymerase chain reaction, was 19.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.3-24.7). In multivariate analysis, young age (odds ratio [OR]adjusted 2.32, 95%CI 1.1-4.8, p<0.05) and having 2-3 (ORadjusted 3.41, 95%CI 1.6-6.3, p<0.05) or >or=4 sexual partners in life (ORadjusted 3.10, 95%CI 1.1-6.3, p<0.05) were factors significantly associated with chlamydial infection. In conclusion, the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was high in the studied population and risk factors were related to age and sexual behavior.

Seroprevalencia del citomegalovirus en gestantes del Hospital Materno Infantil de Goiânia / Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus in pregnant women of Maternity Hospital of Goiânia (Brazil)

Objetivos: Determinar la seroprevalencia del citomegalovirus en gestantes e identificar a las infectadas agudamente o reactivadas. Material y métodos: Se investigó la seroprevalencia de los anticuerpos IgG e IgM en 323 gestantes del Hospital Materno Infantil de Goiânia, por enzimoinmunoanálisis (ELISA), y de éstas, 77 por la prueba de avidez de la IgG para la fase serológica con IgM ausente, escogidas al azar. Resultados: La media de edad ± DE fue de 24,55 ± 6,80 años, y de 23,09 ± 8,78 semanas de edad gestacional. El 98,76% presentaron IgG y el 0,62% además la IgM. El 31,17% presentó baja avidez y el 68,83%, elevada. Conclusiones: De las gestantes estudiadas, el 98,76% presentó infección crónica y el 0,62%, infección aguda. En las investigadas con la prueba de avidez de la IgG, el 31,17% se encontraba en la fase aguda de infección por citomegalovirus, con lo que son necesarios exámenes más sensibles de detección en esta fase debido a la relación con una mayor afección congénita

Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus in pregnant women and to identify those with acute or reactivated infections. Materials and methods: The seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies in 323 pregnant women in the Maternity Hospital of Goiânia was studied using ELISA. Seventy-seven samples were randomly selected to undergo the IgG avidity test for the serological stage without IgM. Results: The mean ± SD age was 24.55 ± 6.80 years and the mean ± SD gestational age was 23.09 ± 8.78 weeks. IgG antibodies were identified in 98.76% and IgM antibodies in 0.62%. Low avidity was found in 31.17% and high avidity was found in 68.83%.Conclusions: Among the pregnant women studied, 98.76% had chronic infection and 0.62% had acute infection. The results of the IgG avidity test revealed that 31.17% were in the acute stage of cytomegalovirus infection. This finding highlights the need for more sensitive detection methods in the acute phase, due to the greater possibility of congenital infection