TaqMan Assay for SwedishChlamydiatrachomatisVariant

Arnold Catsburg,Björn Herrmann,Henry J.C De Vries,Marius Domeika,Vitaly Smelov,Sander Ouburg,Paul H.M Savelkoul,Anders Nilsson,Alevtina Savitcheva,Christian J.P.A Hoebe,Laura Van Dommelen,Servaas A Morré

doi:10.3201/eid1309.070263

Abstract

TaqMan Assay for Swedish<i>Chlamydia</i><i>trachomatis</i>Variant

Highlights

A total of 239 recent samples known to be Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) positive and identified with techniques detecting the swCT variant were retrospectively analyzed with our new swCT real-time PCR for 3 cohorts: 1) 30 real-time PCR CT-positive clinical samples (CT prevalence in the population, 1.8%) from the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 2) 57 Becton Dickinson (Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) CT-positive samples (CT prevalence in the sexually transmitted disease population, 7.3%) from the Department of Infectious Diseases, South Limburg Public Health Service, Heerlen, the Netherlands; and 3) 152
Our new swCT TaqMan assay, combined with the positive control, will be a helpful tool for determining whether this Swedish CT variant is present outside Sweden, other than in the 2 case-patients identified in Norway
*swCT, Swedish Chlamydia trachomatis variant identified in Halland County, Sweden; Ct+, C. trachomatis DNA; ND, not detected. †2 female patients: 1 originally from Sweden, 1 from Norway

Summary

TaqMan Assay for Swedish Chlamydia trachomatis Variant

To the Editor: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide. A total of 239 recent samples known to be CT positive and identified with techniques detecting the swCT variant were retrospectively analyzed with our new swCT real-time PCR for 3 cohorts: 1) 30 real-time PCR CT-positive clinical samples (CT prevalence in the population, 1.8%) from the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 2) 57 Becton Dickinson (Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) CT-positive samples (CT prevalence in the sexually transmitted disease population, 7.3%) from the Department of Infectious Diseases, South Limburg Public Health Service, Heerlen, the Netherlands; and 3) 152. Our new swCT TaqMan assay, combined with the positive control (which can be obtained by contacting S.M.), will be a helpful tool for determining whether this Swedish CT variant is present outside Sweden, other than in the 2 case-patients identified in Norway. Published studies and the current study on screening for the swCT variant*

This study

Reproductive and Respiratory