Relative frequency of Chlamydiapneumoniae in patients with respiratory infections using the PCR and ELISA methods in Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

IntroductionChlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is primarily a human pathogen that has been widely implicated in both lower and upper respiratory tract infections. Current diagnostic methods for the detection of C. pneumoniae are serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays. The present study was conducted to investigate the relatively frequency of C. pneumoniae infection in patients with respiratory tract infections, using both serology and PCR methods in Ahvaz, Iran. MethodsIn this study, for detection of C. pneumoniae by PCR, 120 nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from patients with symptoms of respiratory tract infections. Also two serum specimens in an interval of 2–4 weeks were collected for measuring IgM and IgG antibodies titers against C. pneumoniae by ELISA method. ResultsIn our study, the acute infection of C. pneumoniae was diagnosed in 7 (5.8%) cases using molecular identification of 16S rRNA gene and a four fold or more increase of IgG titer in paired sera. Moreover, these seven patients had positive results in both tests. The anti- C. pneumoniae IgM antibodies were negative in all tested patients. ConclusionWe showed that the results of PCR were in agreement with seroconversion of IgG and the combination of PCR and IgG results can detect all cases of acute infection with C. pneumoniae in the adult population.