[Identification of chlamydia and (or) chlamydia-like microorganisms by light microscopy confirmed by electron microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridization]. / Rasprostranennost' khlamidii i (ili) khlamidiepodobnykh mikroorganizmov u zhenshchin po rezul'tatam svetovoi mikroskopii, podtverzhdennym électronno-mikroskopicheski i s pomoshch'iu FISH-gibridizatsii DNK.

Using light microscopy, we have shown that chlamydia and/or chlamydia-like microorganisms are registered in 20-25% of the healthy part of human population, whereas in patients of the same age with gynecological problems these were found in 40-50%. Commonly, the infection was slightly manifested (less than 5% of cells are infected). These results were confirmed in four months but only in heavily infected patients. The light microscope data are confirmed by observations with electron microscopy, and by FISH hybridization of the total chlamydial DNA on cytological preparations with chlamydial inclusions. In some cases, microcolonies revealed by FISH hybridization occupied the majority of the cytoplasm volume. Occasionally, the DNA material was found on the nuclear surface. It seems likely that in heavily infected cells chlamydia are able to penetrate into the perinucular space.

[Comparative analysis of methods of diagnosis of chlamydia infection]. / Sravnitel'nyi analiz metodov diagnostiki khlamidioza.

In case of a correct sampling, the diagnostic value of optic and electron microscopy for detecting Chlamydia infection is not inferior to that of direct microimmunofluorescence (DMIF) and higher than that of enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Optic microscopy showed that basal vaginal epithelium and buccal mucosa can be infected with Chlamydia. Provazek bodies were detected in the buccal mucosa of the overwhelming majority of patients with genital chlamydiasis. These results were confirmed by DMIF and EIA. Since none of the diagnostic methods is 100% reliable, we recommend using two methods: inexpensive optic microscopy and polymerase chain reaction or DMIF.