Detection Of Chlamydial Infection Research Articles

LEVEL OF SEX HORMONES AND THE SEVERITY OF HYPERPLASTIC PROCESSES IN THE GENITAL TRACT IN WOMEN WITH CHRONIC CHLAMYDIAL INFECTION

Purpose of the study. To evaluate the role of chronic chlamydial infection in the genesis of proliferative processes in the female genital area.Materials and methods. The study involved 267 women aged from 27 to 43 years. Depending on the severity of the pathological process in the genital tract and the presence of the Chlamydia trachomatis infection, 6 groups were distinguished: 1st — 30 somatically healthy women without pathologies of the female reproductive system; 2nd and 3rd — those with inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs of non-chlamydial (36) and chlamydial nature (38); 4th and 5th — those with proliferative processes in the pelvic organs of non-chlamydial (50) and chlamydial nature (58); 6th — patients with cervical cancer (55). The PCR and ELISA (Chem Well, USA) methods were used to identify the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis. The concentration of estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) (ELISA) in the blood, as well as their ratio (E/P), was determined. The as-obtained data were compared with the results of cytomorphological and ultrasound studies.Results. Proliferative processes in the genital tract are accompanied by a change in the level of female sex hormones, in particular, by a sharp decrease in progesterone in the luteal phase of the cycle against the background of absolute or relative hyperestrogenism. These changes are more pronounced in women with chronic chlamydial infection. A connection between the presence of the infectious agent in question and the severity of hyperplastic processes in the female genital tract is established. A comparison of the obtained morphological data with the blood progesterone content in women without Chlamydia trachomatis showed that an increase in the severity of disorders correlates with a decrease in the level of female hormones. In women infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, the severity of hyperplastic processes shifts to the right, i. e. towards normal progesterone values. Therefore, even at maximal progesterone concentrations close to the reference values, a greater severity of pathological changes is observed.Conclusion. The obtained results demonstrate the undeniable role of chronic chlamydial infection in initiating a hormonal imbalance towards absolute or relative hyperestrogenia with a severe progesterone deficiency. A causal relationship of the Chlamydia trachomatis infectious agent with the severity of hyperplastic processes in the pelvic organs is established. It is concluded that the detection of chlamydial infection should be considered as an essential element in the screening and prevention of hyperplastic processes.

Eosinophilia in Preterm Born Infants Infected with Chlamydia trachomatis

ABSTRACTA higher than 350 eosinophils/mm3 is strongly associated with Chlamydia trachomatis in term born babies coursing with respiratory distress. However, in preterm newborns infected with this pathogen, the levels of eosinophils are unknown. Forty newborn infants with clinical data of respiratory problems and/or sepsis were analyzed. DNA of leukocytes from peripheral blood was used to identify C. trachomatis. Detection of chlamydial infection was performed by amplifying the ompA gene by an in-house PCR, and eosinophil levels were evaluated in an XT-2000-hematology analyzer. Eighteen infants showed chlamydial infection and 14 of them showed pneumonia (RR = 2.6; CI95% 1.03-6.5; p =.027). Their eosinophil levels were 719 ± 614 cells/mm3. A significant association between eosinophilia ≥1250 cells/mm3 and gestational age of less than 29 weeks (RR = 5.8; 1.35; CI95% [1.4-24.5], p <.008) was observed. The preterm infants with chlamydial infection did not show higher eosinophil levels than uninfected infants.

Detection of chlamydial infection in Iranian turkey flocks

Background: Avian chlamydiosis is a zoonotic disease ofbirds caused by the intracellular bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. Avianchlamydiosis leads to severe respiratory disease in young turkeys and eggproduction losses in layers. OBJECTIVES: Due to paucity of information about theprevalence of chlamydial infection in the turkey population in Iran, this studywas conducted to detect chlamydial infection in some Iranian turkey flocks indifferent provinces. METHODS: A total of 177 samples were taken from turkeysand first verified as Chlamydiaceae by Chlamydiaceae-specificreal-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) by detection of the 23S RNAgene of Chlamydiaceae (Ct values ranging from 34 to 38) and thenpositive samples were investigated for the presence of C. psittaci by anested PCR. RESULTS: Seventeen of 177 samples (9.6%), correspondingto 13 farms of 48 examined farms were positive for Chlamydiaceae byreal-time PCR. None of the positive samples were found to be C. psittaciin the nested PCR. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed no C. psittaciinfection in the turkey population in Iran. We recommend investigation on otherfarm animals and wild populations for possible chlamydial infection and forbetter understanding of the source and epidemiology of this agent. Due to thechallenges that exist for sampling and the relevant impact on reducing positivesamples, investigation by parallel and complementary techniques may be usefulin showing the true prevalence of infection in the target populations

AB0167 Undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis: What is at the Back of It?

ObjectivesThe aim of our research was to investigate potential etiological factors of undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (uSpA) in comparison with the data obtained in patients with “classic” ankylosing spondylitis (AS).MethodsThe study involved...

Evaluation of the APTIMA Combo 2 Assay using self-administered vaginal swabs for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

We report on the performance of the APTIMA Combo 2 assay for the detection of chlamydial infection and gonorrhea using self-administered vaginal specimens in specimen transport medium and specimen kept dry. The results are compared with the results using the Amplicor assay and the BD ProbeTec assay™.

Early Fetal Loss and Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection

Objectives: Chlamydia trachomatis infection is generally considered to be a risk factor to pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Chlamydia trachomatis in miscarriage, as well as consider different diagnostic approaches. Materials and methods: We collected serum, cervicovaginal swab specimens, and placental samples women with vaginal bleeding and/or abdominal pain in their first trimester of pregnancy. The presence of chlamydial infection was detected by conventional cultivation, by detection of chlamydial antigen using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and detection of IgG level using Immune-Enzymatic Assay (ELISA). Results: Prevalence of miscarriage was significantly higher in group with positive cultivation of C. trachomatis infection (67.3% vs. 36.0%). We did not find a significant difference between the detection of chlamydial infection using conventional cultivation, ELISA or PCR. Association between a C. trachomatis positive diagnostic test and miscarriage remained significant (OR=2.41; 95% CI 1.32-3.35, p<0.01). Conclusion: C. trachomatis infection is an important causative factor of miscarriage. C. trachomatis infection diagnostic procedures should be considered for further recommendations especially for women with recurrent fetal losses.

Comparison of antigen detection and quantitative PCR in the detection of chlamydial infection in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

The gold standard method for detecting chlamydial infection in domestic and wild animals is PCR, but the technique is not suited to testing animals in the field when a rapid diagnosis is frequently required. The objective of this study was to compare the results of a commercially available enzyme immunoassay test for Chlamydia against a quantitative Chlamydia pecorum-specific PCR performed on swabs collected from the conjunctival sac, nasal cavity and urogenital sinuses of naturally infected koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). The level of agreement for positive results between the two assays was low (43.2%). The immunoassay detection cut-off was determined as approximately 400 C. pecorum copies, indicating that the test was sufficiently sensitive to be used for the rapid diagnosis of active chlamydial infections.

Detection of chlamydial infections in high-risk asymptomatic adolescent and young adult males using nucleic acid-amplification test

Detection of chlamydial infections in high-risk asymptomatic adolescent and young adult males using nucleic acid-amplification test

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in semen and urethral specimens from male members of infertile couples in Tunisia

The sequelae to infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in women are an established cause of tubal infertility. However, little is known about chlamydial infection and male infertility.The mainobjective of this study was to evaluate the presence of asymptomatic C. trachomatis infections in urethral and semen specimens from the male members of infertile couples by means of four differentmethods: the direct fluorescence antibodies assay, cell culture, the Roche Cobas Amplicor polymerase chain reaction, and the presence of chlamydial local IgA antibodies by the recombinant antibody-enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay.One or more chlamydial infection markers were detected in 42 (45.7%) of the 92 examined urethral and semen specimens from the male partners of infertile couples. C. trachomatiswas detected in 23.9% (22/92) of urethral specimens and in 35.9% (33/92) of semen specimens. Although there was a significant correlation between the detection of one or more chlamydial infection markersin urethral and semen specimens (p = 0.01), no significant correlation was found between the detection of C. trachomatis DNA in these samples. Furthermore, no significant association was foundbetween the presence of chlamydial local IgA antibodies and the detection of C. trachomatis. The discrepancies in positive results found between some techniques for the detection of C. trachomatisin urethral and semen specimens might be explained by variations in the sensitivities and specificities of the tests carried out and the use of specimens from different anatomical locations. Our findingssuggest that C. trachomatis seems to be widespread among the male partners of infertile couples in Tunisia.The detection of C. trachomatis in urethral or semen specimens can serve asa marker for the presence of this organism in the genital tract, which is not necessarily the cause of male infertility. The study of the correlation between the detection of chlamydial infection markersand the parameters of male fertility seems to be necessary in order to determine the direct link between chlamydial infection and male infertility and to choose the most efficient technique and most suitablespecimen with which to diagnose C. trachomatis-associated male infertility.

Comparison of Cotton Wool Swab and Cytobrush for Detection of Chlamydial Infection in Women Attending a Genitourinary Medicine Clinic

Endocervical specimens obtained by cytobrush and conventional cotton wool swabs from 90 women attending a genitourinary medicine clinic were compared for their efficiency in detecting chlamydial infection. Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis and detection of the chlamydial lipopolysaccharide antigen were attempted on each specimen. Antigen was detected in 18% of cytobrush and 17% of swab specimens. The cytobrush proved less suitable than swabs for isolation because 8 cytobrush specimens (9%) were toxic to the McCoy cells. Toxicity was significantly associated with an infected endocervix (2P = 0.004). Cytobrush therefore appeared to have little advantage over the much cheaper alternative, the cotton wool swab.

Facts, Comments and Concerns in Understanding the Detection of Chlamydial Infections

Facts, Comments and Concerns in Understanding the Detection of Chlamydial Infections