Chlamydial IgA Research Articles

Association between infection with Chlamydia pneumonia and cerebral noncardioembolic ischemic stroke

Introduction: Stroke is the third most common cause of mortality and the most common disability disorder among adults. We aimed to study the relationship between Chlamydia pneumonia infection and non-cardio Ambulatory ischemic stroke.Methods: This case-control study was performed on 162 patients with non-cardio ambulatory ischemic stroke admitted to Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan in 2019 as the case group and patients with neurological headache and degenerative diseases as the control group. After filling out the questionnaire for all subjects, we took blood samples. We analyzed all three anti-chlamydia pneumonia antibodies (IgM, IgG, IgA) by ELISA method after data were analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher tests.Results: The findings of this study showed that positive IgA in the stroke group was significantly higher than in the control group (p=0.001); it was also found that the risk factors of HTN (p=0.001), HLP (p=0.001), DM (p=0.001), and age (p = 0.049) were significantly higher in the stroke patients’ group than the control group. On the other hand, there was not a significant difference in serum IgG level (p = 0.349), IgM (p = 0.745), smoking (p = 0.211) and gender (p = 0.157) in understudied groups.Conclusion: Chlamydia IgA antibodies can be a complementary tool for predicting prognosis and monitoring new therapies for ischemic stroke. This study provides a way for further studies, especially with other markers of acute and chronic systemic Chlamydia pneumonia infection. Antibiotic treatment significantly helps to reduce mortality and stroke complications.

Are Chlamydial Lipopolysaccachide-directed Antibodies in Seminal Plasma or Serum Clinically Significant During Investigation of Male Infertility?

To analyze the clinical relevance of chlamydial serology in seminal plasma (SP)/serum for male fertility. We determined the IgG, IgA, and IgM class antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis with a lipopolysaccharide-directed standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the serum of 173 asymptomatic subfertile couples and in the same-day SP in a prospective study. The semen quality evaluation was done using aliquots of the same ejaculate (eg, sperm analysis, leukocytes, bacterial cultures, sperm functional capacity). The medical history, clinical examination, postcoital testing, and determination of subsequent fertility were also done. The antichlamydial antibodies of the 3 classes were significantly interrelated, and SP Chlamydia IgA antibodies were significantly associated with the findings in the serum. The evidence for previous or persistent chlamydial infection was significantly more frequent in the female partners of men with Chlamydia antibodies in the serum and/or Chlamydia IgA antibodies in the SP. The chlamydial serology results in the SP/serum were not associated with the sperm quality, leukocytes, semen culture findings, or sperm functional capacity. The chlamydial serology results (ie, IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies in SP/serum) determined using a lipopolysaccharide-directed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were not indicative of reduced sperm function or subsequent fertilizing capacity.

Infection du tractus génital masculin : le point de vue du bactériologiste

Male genital tract infection and inflammation have been associated to 8 to 35% of male infertility cases in various studies. Their investigation is part of a multi-disciplinary process including new techniques as DNA integrity study. Bacterial seminal infection can cause transient or chronic persistent inflammation, and the microbiological investigations, as well as leukospermia, secretory chlamydial IgA and inflammatory cytokines help to approach the responsibility of inflammation in infertility or pathological condition, leading to antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment. In Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART), bacteriospermia must be eradicated for a safe semen preparation to inseminate or to fertilize oocytes. Leukocytes cannot be completely eliminated by sperm preparation and the presence of antibiotics and antioxydants in the culture media is questionned.

Pregnancy Outcome in Recurrent Aborters is Not Influenced by Chlamydia IgA and/or G

It is unclear whether chlamydia infection influences the miscarriage rate and immunological factors in patients with recurrent miscarriage. Chlamydia DNA, IgA and IgG to Chlamydia trachomatis, natural killer cell activity, complement 3 (C3), C4, hemolytic complement, antinuclear antibodies, antiphospholipid antibodies, prolactin, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and fibrinogen were examined in 504 patients with a history of two or more consecutive first-trimester miscarriages. Subsequent pregnancy outcomes were compared between cases with and without antibodies to C. trachomatis. Totals of 10 of 30 and 48 of 201 patients receiving no medication miscarried subsequently with and without chlamydia infection. Chlamydia IgA and/or IgG were associated with a high level of C3 but not other immunological and coagulatory parameters. Antibodies to C. trachomatis do not influence subsequent pregnancy outcome in patients with a history of recurrent miscarriage.

Chlamydia trachomatis in andrologic patients--direct and indirect detection.

Chlamydia trachomatis is considered to be the most common sexually transmitted disease in Germany. It is currently unclear whether chlamydial infection causes pathological conditions of the male accessory glands with consequences for male infertility. Within the framework of several prospective studies the association between sperm quality, male accessory gland function and infection with C. trachomatis was investigated in men of couples with unexplained infertility. Chlamydial infection was determined by serologic methods and by proof of Chlamydia-specific DNA. As a marker of infection the direct determination of granulocytes in the ejaculate or the measurement of the polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase concentration was used. The male accessory gland function was evaluated using the markers fructose, citric acid and alpha-glucosidase in the seminal plasma. Chlamydia-specific DNA in the ejaculate was present in between 3-5% of the subjects, which corresponds to its prevalence in the normal population. Chlamydia IgA antibodies were demonstrated with a frequency of 38% in seminal plasma (n = 834) using a genus-specific test (rELISA). Using other species-specific tests (MIF, SeroCT, IgA pELISA and ImmunoComb), Chlamydia IgA antibodies were found at frequencies of between 8 and 22%. Only in a few individual cases was it possible to show a connection between reduced sperm quality, disturbed male accessory gland function and indication of infection with Chlamydia, bacteria or Ureaplasma.

Antibodies to chlamydia trachomatis in semen and relationship with parameters of male fertility.

To screen for infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in semen samples from asymptomatic men in couples consulting for infertility and to determine the relationship of seminal chlamydial antibodies with clinically relevant parameters of male fertility, 197 randomly chosen patients were enrolled in a prospective study. The median duration of infertility was 4 years (range 1-18). Screening for C. trachomatis and chlamydial antibodies of the immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG classes were performed in ejaculates and, in parallel, endocervical material from the partners of the patients and serum samples from both partners were evaluated. A comprehensive examination of semen quality included sperm analyses, semen cultures, local antisperm antibody (ASA) testing, the determination of potential infection markers, and sperm-cervical mucus interaction testing in vitro (SCMPT) and in vivo (post-coital testing). Chlamydial IgA antibodies were found in the semen samples of 18.8% (37/197) of the patients, while chlamydial IgG antibodies were found in 8.1% (16/197) of the patients. Screening for C. trachomatis was negative in all semen and cervical specimens. Only 5.5% of men remembered a past genital infection. Chlamydia antibodies (IgA/Ig/G) in semen were significantly correlated with chlamydia IgG antibodies in serum samples (P < 0.001). No marked relationship was found between the presence of seminal chlamydial antibodies and the major parameters of sperm analysis, semen cultures, local ASA and sperm penetration testing as an indicator of functional capacity. Seminal chlamydial antibodies were not significantly associated with potential infection or inflammation markers in aliquots of the same ejaculates. However, a significant relationship of chlamydial antibodies in patients' semen with past genital infections of their female partners was found with clinical relevance for a tubal infertility factor. The results indicate that in asymptomatic patients the presence of chlamydial antibody IgA or IgG in semen is not associated with reduced semen quality, potential seminal infection markers or impaired functional capacity as important determinants of male fertility; however, seminal chlamydial antibodies suggesting a previous sexually transmitted disease are significantly related to a tubal infertility factor of female partners.

Neonates and adults with special reference to tear IgA

Tear and serum samples from 128 neonates and 122 adults with conjunctivitis were examined for antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis with a micro-immunofluorescence (MIF) technique and the results compared to antigen detection by culture, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Chlamydiazyme, Abbott) and direct immunofluorescence (IF) (MicroTrak, Syva and Chlamyset, Orion) tests. From the 52 culture-positive adults, chlamydial IgA (titre greater than or equal to 1:8) antibodies were detected in 81% of the tear and in 62% of the serum samples, while 88% had such serum IgG antibodies (titre greater than or equal to 1:32). The persistence of chlamydial IgA in tears and sera was related to the duration of symptoms of conjunctivitis and the antibody titres declined after institution of antibiotic treatment. In the adults, the sensitivity of the MIF tear IgA antibody test (81%) was higher than that of the EIA (71%) and the IF (MicroTrak 71% and Chlamyset 62%) tests. The specificity for the MIF test was 79%, while it was 100% for the EIA and the two IF tests. Of the 67 chlamydia-infected neonates, 36% had chlamydial tear IgA antibodies, while such antibodies were only found in 15% of the sera. No neonates with chlamydia-negative conjunctivitis had chlamydial IgA antibodies. The MIF test may be used as a diagnostic method complementary to culture, EIA and IF tests in the diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis in adults, but is not applicable in neonates.

Amniotic Fluid Findings in Women with High Levels of Chlamydial Antibody

A study was undertaken to examine possible transplacental passage of Chlamydia trachomatis from pregnant women who were seropositive for chlamydia, but with no cervical C. trachomatis infection. Forty asymptomatic pregnant women, scheduled for diagnostic amniocentesis at 15-19 weeks of gestation, were tested for the presence of high serum IgA and IgG chlamydial specific antibodies and for cervical chlamydia infection. Five (12.5%) had both high serum IgA and IgG antibody levels and 10 (25%) had high serum IgG antibody levels. Overall, 15 (37.5%) had high serum chlamydia specific antibody levels (all were free of cervical chlamydial infection). The evaluation of the amniotic fluid specimens of these 15 seropositive pregnant women, who were free of cervical chlamydial infection, proved negative for direct C. trachomatis antigen detection and for chlamydial IgA and IgG specific antibodies. These negative results could be attributed to the lack of transplacental passage of C. trachomatis or to the antimicrobial activity of amniotic fluid against C. trachomatis, which has been previously described. The discrepancy between maternal infection and maternal serum antibody levels may suggest that the serologic test does not predict the presence of an antigen in the cervix.

Serum-Specific Antibodies forChlamydiatrachomatisin Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes

A case control study was performed to examine possible morbidity associated with Chlamydia trachomatis in 15 pregnant women with idiopathic preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PROM; group A), and in two control groups, 35 healthy preterm pregnant women (group B), and 43 healthy pregnant women at term (group C). Serum C. trachomatis IgG and IgA specific antibodies were determined using the single serovar (L2) inclusion immunoperoxidase assay. There were no significant differences in the prevalence rate of elevated levels of chlamydia IgG specific antibodies (titer greater than or equal to 1:128) between pregnant women suffering from idiopathic preterm PROM, as compared to healthy preterm and term pregnant women (20, 28 and 26%, respectively). Nor were there any significant differences in the prevalence rate of elevated levels of chlamydia IgA specific antibodies (titer greater than or equal to 1:16) between pregnant women with idiopathic preterm PROM, as compared to healthy preterm and term pregnant women (20, 20 and 17%, respectively). These findings do not support the assumption that C. trachomatis may play role in preterm PROM.

Tubal factor infertility: an association with prior chlamydial infection and asymptomatic salpingitis

In 265 Canadian women, with and without tubal factor infertility (TFI), we compared Chlamydia trachomatis cultures of endocervical swabs, endotubal swabs and biopsies, serology, and past history. A history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) was absent in 69.2% of TFI women, despite visual evidence of tubal damage. C. trachomatis was not isolated in any of 52 patients with TFI (TFI group), 114 having tubal ligation (STER group), or 99 patients having hysterectomy (HYST group). However, chlamydial antigen was detected with an immunochemical method in 1 of 16 tubal biopsy specimens from TFI women. The prevalence of chlamydial IgM or IgG antibody in serum was significantly higher (P less than 0.0001) in the TFI group (79.1%) than in the other two groups (relative odds, 6.3; 95% confidence interval: 2.5, 16.8). In seropositive (IgG or IgM) subjects, there was a significant (P = 0.003) and strong (relative odds, 5.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.5, 18.1) association between chlamydial IgA antibody and TFI. In women with TFI, there was no significant association between IgM or IgG seropositivity (P = 0.56). or IgA seropositivity (P = 0.53), and a negative history for PID. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that C. trachomatis is a major cause of TFI following PID, which may or may not be asymptomatic.

Chlamydia trachomatis serology in ankylosing spondylitis.

Demonstration of chlamydial antibodies in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) could show an etiological role of Chlamydia trachomatis in this condition. We studied serum specimens from 50 HLA-B27 positive patients with AS (Group I), 34 HLA-B27 positive patients with other rheumatic diseases (Group II), 67 HLA-B27 positive healthy blood donors (Group III) and 37 healthy untyped blood donors. (Group IV). Measured by an immunoperoxidase assay (IPA) chlamydial IgA (titre greater than or equal to 1:20) was more prevalent in the HLA-B27 positive persons than in the healthy controls not selected for HLA-group (Groups I + II + III vs IV : p less than 0.02). Chlamydia trachomatis IgA-IPA containing sera also had specific IgG-IPA antibodies (greater than or equal to 1:80) in 29 (96%) out of 30 sera from HLA-B27 positive individuals and controls. Conversely, 45% of specific IgG-positive (greater than or equal to 1:80) AS sera, 27.7% sera in Group II, 39.4% Group III sera vs. 11.1% of sera in Group IV had concomitant chlamydial IgA (greater than or equal to 1:20). The differences in the prevalence of specific IgA were statistically significant: Group I vs. IV : p less than 0.01; Group III vs. IV :p less than 0.05 and Gr. I + II + III vs. IV: p less than 0.05. Our data suggest an enhanced antibody production against Chlamydia trachomatis among the HLA-B27 positive individuals whether they have AS or are healthy.

Chronic Prostatitis, Chlamydia Trachomatis and Infertility

Seventy-one infertile men were studied for the presence of seminal leucocytosis, and for the levels of acid phosphatase activity and Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies of IgA class using a novel method of solid-phase radioimmunoassay. The findings were compared with those of 56 fertile men. Chlamydial IgA antibodies were found in the semen of 51.1% of infertile men with seminal leucocytosis and decreased seminal acid phosphatase activity, i.e. those defined as having asymptomatic chronic prostatitis. This frequency was significantly higher than among fertile men (23.2%, P less than 0.01) and those infertile men who had no signs of chronic prostatitis (26.9%, P less than 0.05). It is concluded that Chlamydia trachomatis seems to be a common cause of prostatitis and may also interfere with fertility.

Chronic prostatitis, chlamydia trachomatis and infertility.

Seventy-one infertile men were studied for the presence of seminal leucocytosis, and for the levels of acid phosphatase activity and Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies of IgA class using a novel method of solid-phase radioimmunoassay. The findings were compared with those of 56 fertile men. Chlamydial IgA antibodies were found in the semen of 51.1% of infertile men with seminal leucocytosis and decreased seminal acid phosphatase activity, i.e. those defined as having asymptomatic chronic prostatitis. This frequency was significantly higher than among fertile men (23.2%, P less than 0.01) and those infertile men who had no signs of chronic prostatitis (26.9%, P less than 0.05). It is concluded that Chlamydia trachomatis seems to be a common cause of prostatitis and may also interfere with fertility.

Chlamydial secretory IgA antibodies in human milk.

Colostrum from 10 of 30 randomly chosen women contained IgA antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis as shown by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a single-antigen immunofluorescence test. Specific colostral IgA was present only in seropositive women. In addition, Chlamydial-specific IgA was also detected in milk from 5 of 6 women who were shown to harbour C. trachomatis in the lower genital tract during delivery. There was a close correlation between chlamydial-specific IgA and the chlamydial secretory immunoglobulin titres in colostrum and milk samples but not between chlamydial IgA titres and the total secretory IgA content. No agreement was observed between the specific IgA antibodies in milk and corresponding serum samples. It is suggested that chlamydial-specific IgA in milk is induced by genital infections.