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PubMed1990

Detection and differentiation of Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia psittaci, and Chlamydia pneumoniae by DNA amplification.

The polymerase chain reaction was used to detect major outer membrane protein (MOMP) gene sequences from the three species of Chlamydia. Using three primer pairs and one restriction enzyme digestion, three distinct genotypes, corresponding to the three species, Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia psittaci, were demonstrated. C. trachomatis was amplified by all three primer pairs and the amplified fragment was digested by EcoRI. C. pneumoniae was amplified by only two of the three primer pairs, and the amplified fragment was digested by EcoRI. C. psittaci was amplified by only two of the pairs and the amplified fragment was EcoRI-resistant. C. trachomatis was detected in direct patient specimens, tissue culture specimens, and fixed specimens, and all serovars of C. trachomatis were detectable. The polymerase chain reaction can detect and differentiate the three species of Chlamydia and may prove a valuable diagnostic tool.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

PubMed1993

Phylogenetic relationship of Chlamydia pneumoniae to Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia trachomatis as determined by analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA sequences.

The 16S ribosomal DNA sequence of Chlamydia pneumoniae was determined and compared with the corresponding gene sequences of Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia trachomatis. C. pneumoniae has been reported to exhibit little chromosomal DNA homology with the other chlamydial species, and its phylogenetic relationships within the genus Chlamydia have not been described. A polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine the 16S rRNA gene sequence of C. pneumoniae. Ten primers from the C. psittaci sequences were used to amplify a C. pneumoniae template in overlapping segments of the gene. Sequence data for 1,554 bases indicated that the levels of homology of C. pneumoniae with C. psittaci and C. trachomatis were 96.19 and 94.07%, respectively. These data support the results of previous biochemical and developmental studies indicating that C. pneumoniae is more closely related to C. psittaci than to C. trachomatis.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Evaluation of a new commercial microimmunofluorescence test for detection of antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Chlamydia psittaci.

A new commercial test for chlamydial serology, the MRL-Micro-Immunofluorescent Test (MRL; MRL Diagnostics, USA) was compared with the standard microimmunofluorescence test (MIF) using sera from 246 patients. Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were detected in 46.3% (MIF) and 64.2% (MRL) of sera and Chlamydia trachomatis IgG in 23.2% (MIF) and 25.2% (MRL); Chlamydia psittaci IgG antibodies were found with the MRL in 1% of the sera from a general population and in 17.3% of preselected sera with elevated complement fixation titers. Titers were usually higher with the MRL. IgG titers of > or = 1:512 were detected in only 2% of sera using the standard MIF but in 30% using the MRL. In 16 sera from three Chlamydia pneumoniae culture-positive patients, the diagnosis of acute infection could be confirmed serologically in one with the MRL test but in none with the MIF test, indicating a higher sensitivity of the MRL.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed1992

PCR detection and differentiation of Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia trachomatis.

A PCR-based system was developed for the detection and differentiation of Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae. A conserved 145 bp fragment of the chlamydial omp1 gene was amplified from all three species. The three species were then differentiated from each other by digestion of this PCR product with restriction enzymes Eco RI and either Hind III or Pst I. The system was shown to work for two strains of C. pneumoniae, 11 strains of C. psittaci and 10 serovars of C. trachomatis, and had a sensitivity of less than 10 chlamydial elementary bodies. This method was also applicable to the detection of C. trachomatis in conjunctival and nasopharyngeal swabs.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Differences in the envelope proteins of Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Chlamydia psittaci shown by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the N-laurylsarkosinate(Sarkosyl)-insoluble envelope complexes of L-[35]S-cysteine-labeled elementary bodies of Chlamydia pneumoniae strain IOL-207, Chlamydia trachomatis serovar LGV2, D, and F, and Chlamydia psittaci strain 6BC showed differences in the molecular charges of chlamydial outer membrane proteins. The apparent isoelectric point (pI) of the major outer membrane protein of C. pneumoniae strain IOL-207 was 6.4, whereas the pI of the major outer membrane protein of the C. trachomatis and C. psittaci strains differed little from one another, ranging from 5.3 to 5.5. The 60-kDa cysteine-rich protein of C. pneumoniae was the only 60-kDa chlamydial protein with a pI value (5.9) more acidic than that of the corresponding major outer membrane protein. As a general rule, the charges of both the 60-kDa and the low-molecular-mass (12-15 kDa) cysteine-rich proteins were widely variable, depending on the strain. However, in each individual strain, the variation of the charge of the 60-kDa protein had a compensatory change in the low-molecular-mass cysteine-rich protein.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of amplicor chlamydia PCR and LCX chlamydia LCR to detect Chlamydia trachomatis in synovial fluid.

OBJECTIVES: PCR has been successfully used in research for the detection of C. trachomatis DNA in synovial samples. However, each research laboratory has developed its own PCR, making inter-laboratory comparisons difficult. To allow for standardization we evaluated two commercially available amplification systems originally designed for the examination of urogenital samples (Roche Amplicor Chlamydia PCR and Abbott LCX Chlamydia LCR), using them to analyse spiked and clinical synovial fluid (SF) samples from reactive arthritis (ReA), undifferentiated arthritis (UA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. We compared their sensitivity in assays of clinical SF samples with our in-house developed C. trachomatis specific nested PCR. METHODS: SF was spiked with purified C. trachomatis elementary bodies (EB) and analyzed by the commercial assays. Clinical SF samplesfrom ReA (n=21), UA (n=79) and RA (n=50) patients were examined by the two commercial assays and our in-house PCR. RESULTS: Using SF samples spiked with defined numbers of C. trachomatis EB, the sensitivity of the commercial tests was high and similar to published PCR sensitivity. In clinical SF specimens the commercial assays was also able to detect CT; however, the in-house PCR was more sensitive. Out of 10 PCR-positive SF samples Amplicor tested positive in only 4/10 and LCX in only 3/10. The in-house PCR detected chlamydial DNA in synovialfluidfrom 5/21 ReA (24%), 5/79 UA (6%) and in none of the 50 RA patients. CONCLUSION: Commercial amplification assays allow the detection of C. trachomatis in clinical specimens, although with a lower sensitivity than optimized PCR. Potential explanations are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Immunoreactivity of the 60 kDa cysteine-rich proteins of Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae expressed in Escherichia coli.

The 60 kDa cysteine-rich proteins (CrPs) of Chlamydia are developmentally regulated outer envelope proteins synthesized late in the chlamydial growth cycle. These proteins, found only on the extracellular infectious elementary bodies, elicit major antibody responses in chlamydial infection. We have cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli the complete 60 kDa CrP genes from Chlamydia trachomatis, C. psittaci and C. pneumoniae. The recombinant products were expressed as either 'native' proteins or as fusions with the bacteriophage T7 gene 10 protein. Electron microscopy showed that recombinant proteins were produced as insoluble inclusions within the E. coli host cells. The recombinant 60 kDa CrPs were purified and used to raise high titre polyclonal antisera. In immunoblot analysis these antisera reacted with the 60 kDa CrPs from purified elementary bodies of all three chlamydial species in a genus-specific manner. Further molecular analysis allowed the genus-specific cross-reacting epitopes to be localized by using overlapping synthetic peptides covering the C. trachomatis 60 kDa CrP. Immunogold labelling experiments, using purified infectious elementary bodies from the three chlamydial species indicated that the 60 kDa CrPs are not surface accessible to antibody binding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

[Reactivity of Chlamydia pneumoniae strains in the IDEIA CHLAMYDIA test kit designed for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis].

The intensity of reaction in the IDEIA CHLAMYDIA test kit to lipopolysaccharide of seven strains of Chlamydia pneumoniae was examined by using highly purified elementary bodies (EBs). The strains were divided into two groups according to whether the EBs were pear-shape or round. The group with the pear-shaped EBs consisted of TW-183, AR-39 and AR-388 strains; the group with the round EBs consisted of IOL-207, Kajaani-6, YK-41 and KKpn-1 strains. The number of EBs at the cutoff level of the test kit were determined as follows: TW-183, 7.0 x 10(3); AR-388, 8.4 x 10(3); AR-39, 2.4 x 10(4); IOL-207, 6.0 x 10(3); Kajaani-6, 1.2 x 10(4); KKpn-1 2.8 x 10(4); and YK-41, 4.0 x 10(4) per assay. The number of EBs of C. trachomatis L2/434/Bu and C. psittaci Cal 10 were 1.0 x 10(3) and 2.7 x 10(4) per assay, respectively. The results demonstrated that the EBs of C. pneumoniae were detected with the test kit at different reaction intensities ranging from 6.0 x 10(3) to 4.0 x 10(4) per assay and that there was no correlation between EB number and morphology.

Chlamydia trachomatis↗

PubMed1996

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in blood donors and attendees of STD clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, C. psittaci and C. pneumoniae antibodies in sera from altogether 931 blood donors, patients with symptoms of urethritis, assumed salpingitis and sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA), and women with fertility problems. METHODS: IgG antibodies to C. trachomatis, C. psittaci and C. pneumoniae were determined by microimmunofluorescence (MIF) tests. All patients were also tested for genital C. trachomatis infection using direct immunofluorescence (DIF) tests. RESULTS: The DIF-positive cases had a significantly (p < 0.0001) higher prevalence of C. trachomatis antibodies than the DIF negatives, i.e. 88.5% versus 14% in men with urethritis, 94.3% versus 36.4% in women with salpingitis, 66.7% versus 16.7% in SARA patients and 90.6% versus 20.8% in women with fertility problems. Antibody reactivity to all three chlamydial species was found significantly (p < 0.0001) more often in the patient groups and in those with a DIF-confirmed genital C. trachomatis infection than in blood donors. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of serum antibodies to C. trachomatis is tightly associated with the presence of chlamydiae in the genital tract, which also influences the cross-reactivities occurring in the MIF tests between chlamydial species.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of IgM antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia psittaci from Japanese infants and children with pneumonia.

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is now well established as a pathogen of neonatal inclusion conjunctivitis and infantile pneumonia. C. pneumoniae (TWAR) and C. psittaci also cause pneumonia and other respiratory infections. Serum samples from 223 Japanese infants and children with pneumonia were tested for IgM antibodies to C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci. IgM antibodies to C. trachomatis were measured by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and by a microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test. IgM antibodies to C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci were determined by MIF. Of 223 patients, 48 (21.5%) were positive for IgM antibodies to C. trachomatis, 11 (4.9%) were positive for C. pneumoniae and 5 (2.2%) were positive for C. psittaci. From nasopharyngeal swabs collected from 87 infants with pneumonia (0 to 1 year of age), we attempted to isolate C. trachomatis with tissue culture. C. trachomatis was isolated from 23 (26.4%) of 87 infants with pneumonia, and IgM antibodies to C. trachomatis were detected in 17 (19.5%) of them. Our data suggest a role for chlamydial infection in childhood pneumonia beyond infancy with both C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae being contributing pathogens.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Previous clinical diagnosis of chlamydia helps patients predict outcome of new chlamydia clinical test

Background: As part of an ongoing clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention aimed at decreasing STDs in adolescent females, a host of different background measures were collected at baseline. These measures include self-reported behaviors, risk and probability estimates concerning STDs, self-reported prior medical diagnoses, and a Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection assay, among other measures. This analysis examines participants' accuracy in estimating their own chance of chlamydia infection.Methods: Participants were 131 sexually active adolescent females, 79% black, 13% white, mean age 16 (range 13-19), who had been recruited from an adolescent health service. At the time of this study, participants were not primarily being seen for a clinical visit. Participants answered two questions that are examined here: The first asked, "What is the percent chance that you have chlamydia right now," accompanied by a visual scale ranging from 0% (no chance) to 100% (certainly). The second question asked, "In your life, have you ever been told by a doctor or nurse that you had chlamydia?" Following all questions a vaginal swab was collected by the participant, which was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Ct. A multiple regression was performed, predicting the outcome of the chlamydia swab test using participants' estimates that they had chlamydia, their self-reported prior diagnosis with chlamydia (dichotomous), and the interaction between these two variables.Results: The regression F(3, 127) = 10.95, p <.01, revealed that participants' estimates of the chance that they had chlamydia significantly predicted outcome of the clinical test, t(127) = 3.34, p <.01. Previous diagnosis with chlamydia alone did not predict outcome of the clinical test, t(127) = -0.84, ns, but the interaction between the two variables significantly predicted clinical outcome, t(127) = -2.07, p <.05. A previous chlamydia diagnosis made participants' own estimates highly predictive of the clinical outcome; the estimates of those who had never been previously diagnosed with chlamydia had very little predictive power. Conclusions: Those participants who had prior experience with a chlamydia diagnosis were much more able to interpret their own risks and symptoms, and arrive at a very accurate estimate of the chance that they had a chlamydia infection. It is important to note that these participants were not seeking care at the time of this study, but that they had enough information to predict clinical outcome of a chlamydia test, especially those who had been diagnosed with chlamydia in the past. Arguably, these are they very patients who are most at risk for long-term sequelae of chlamydia infection, and asking (or having the patient ask) the relevant questions may increase the likelihood that they are identified and treated promptly, and early in the course of infection.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

A seroepidemiologic study of Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia psittaci in different populations on the mainland of China.

To evaluate and compare the prevalence of antibodies to 3 chlamydial species in various populations on the mainland of China, the MIF test was used to detect both serum IgG and IgM antibodies to these species in the normal population (n = 711), in poultry workers (n = 51), in female prostitutes (n = 106), in patients attending the sexually transmitted diseases clinic (n = 98), and in adult patients with pneumonia and bronchitis (n = 108). In the normal population, IgG antibodies against C. pneumoniae, C. trachomatis and C. psittaci were present in 61.5%, 9.3%, and 3.5%, respectively, and increasing with age. Prevalence and geometric mean titers (GMT) of IgG antibodies to C. trachomatis in prostitutes (54.7%) and female (55%), but not male (15.4%) sexually transmitted disease patients were significantly higher than in the normal adult female population. The prevalence indicating both previous and recent C. psittaci infections in poultry workers was no higher than in the others. The prevalence of IgG antibodies and GMT to C. pneumoniae in patients with pneumonia and bronchitis was not statistically higher than in the normal adult population. Evidence of cross-reactivities in the MIF test between different species was found in both prevalence and GMT. Serum IgM antibodies were usually absent in patients who met the serological criteria of recent C. pneumoniae infection, indicating that most of them could be considered as reinfections. On the basis of our survey, acute antibodies to C. pneumoniae by the MIF test, if they are detected, may be valuable in the diagnosis of recent C. pneumoniae infections.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Immune response to Chlamydia trachomatis heat-shock protein in infertile female patients and influence of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies.

A total of 446 sera from 245 patients with primary or secondary infertility, all of whom were examined laparoscopically, 117 patients with Chlamydia trachomatis-positive cervical swabs, and 84 control persons (50 obstetric patients and 34 female blood donors) were tested for antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and to Chlamydia pneumoniae with the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test. MIF test antibody rates were highest in patients with complete tubal occlusion (73%) and in patients with proven Chlamydia trachomatis infection (74%), whereas only 9 to 10% of the control group showed Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies. Reaction to the 60 kDa antigen of Chlamydia trachomatis, a heat-shock protein (hsp) analogue, has been suggested as a possible marker for the development of chronic sequelae after Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Immunoblot analysis of 222 sera (169 infertility patients, 20 antigen-positive patients, and 33 mothers) showed a significantly higher anti-hsp antibody rate in patients with complete tubal occlusion than in infertility patients with normal fallopian tubes (76% vs. 19%, p < 0.001). The presence of antibodies not only to Chlamydia trachomatis but also to Chlamydia pneumoniae in the MIF test was associated with a significantly higher rate of anti-hsp antibodies and with complete tubal occlusion. This association did not appear to be due to cross-reactivity between Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies in the MIF test.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Chlamydia trachomatis and male infertility: chlamydia-IgA antibodies in seminal plasma are C. trachomatis specific and associated with an inflammatory response.

BACKGROUND: There is controversy over the role of asymptomatic genital tract infection by Chlamydia trachomatis, its optimal diagnosis, and its place in the etiology of male infertility. OBJECTIVE: Comparison of direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in semen with the presence of chlamydia-antibodies in seminal plasma and serum, together with parameters of the spermatogram, in men of infertile relationships. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: University hospital tertiary referral center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two groups of consecutive andrological patients (n = 89 and n = 36) were investigated as follows: semen analysis, including concentration of granulocyte-elastase; detection of C. trachomatis in semen samples and first void urine by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antigen-ELISA (Celisa); detection of chlamydia antibodies in serum and seminal plasma by recombinant antibody-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (rELISA) and of Chlamydia trachomatis specific antibodies by the ImmunoComb-Chlamydia-Bivalent test. RESULTS: In 2/125 (1.6%) semen samples Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was detected by PCR. Genus specific anti-chlamydia-IgA was found in 12/122 (9%) of the seminal plasmas. This IgA appeared to be specific for C. trachomatis. Seminal plasmas with chlamydia-IgA antibodies showed higher PMN-elastase levels than IgA negative samples (P < 0.04). Chlamydia-IgG antibodies were present in 27/89 (30%) of the sera, but in only five of these 27 sera (19%) were the antibodies detected specific for C. trachomatis. There were no associations between any of these variables and the parameters of the routine semen analysis. CONCLUSION: IgA-chlamydial antibodies in seminal plasma appeared to be specific against C. trachomatis and were associated with an inflammatory response in the male genital tract.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Population-level intervention to promote chlamydia screening. Moving toward implementation of chlamydia hedis 2000 measure

Background: HEDIS 2000 measure includes chlamydia screening in women which is designed to assess the percentage of sexually active women 15 to 25 years who have received at least one screening test for chlamydia during the reporting year. This study is being undertaken to determine feasibility of implementing a population-level intervention within HMOs to promote chlamydia screening. This abstract presents preliminary findings from the Birmingham project of this multicenter study.Methods: In partnerships with two HMOs, series of outreach methods were used in a stepwise fashion to determine potential barriers and enabling factors for the implementation of chlamydia HEDIS measure in a conservative social environment. Mail outreach was sequentially combined with newspaper, TV, radio advertisements and poster displays. Both qualitative and quantitative impact of the outreach efforts were measured across the timeline. The measures included reporting for chlamydia screening (urine LCR) and infection rate, monitoring chlamydia hotline and staffed phoneline use, and assessment of untoward effects and cost-analysis of the chlamydia outreach campaign.Results: The key findings are: the benefit of chlamydia screening is not understood by general public, letters send by Health Plans to their members are not read by many subscribers, and there are wide gaps between adolescents and their parents, in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs in regard to obtaining information and accessing the screening services (teens prefer hotline, brochure in an envelop addressed to teens, incentives for reporting to the clinic for screening, vs. parents prefer staffed phone consults, "exposed" brochure addressed to parents, and no incentives). A month of sustained and repeat multi-media campaign resulted in 330 hotline calls, 83 phone calls and only 17 subjects being tested (3 were positive) though many more intended to come. Cumulative effects and cost of various outreach efforts are being monitored. Informational chlamydia brochures and free test cards mailed to the homes generated no negative response from the subscribers, contrary to the concerns of the HMOs. Conclusion: To be effective, investment in public education campaign and social marketing strategies must be integrated in population-level intervention for the implementation of the chlamydia HEDIS 2000 measure.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1997

Evaluation of the microparticle enzyme immunoassay Abbott IMx Select Chlamydia and the importance of urethral site sampling to detect Chlamydia trachomatis in women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the commercial microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA), Abbott IMx Select Chlamydia, for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in women and to compare its performance with endocervical cell culture. Also, to determine whether sampling the urethral site is an important part of chlamydial diagnosis in women. SETTING: The Auckland, Manukau, and Waitakere Sexual Health Clinics, Auckland, New Zealand and the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Auckland Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. PATIENTS: The study population consisted of 622 consecutive women who attended the three sexual health clinics. METHODS: The IMx Chlamydia assay was performed on an IMx analyser, following a specimen treatment procedure. All reactive samples from the IMx Chlamydia assay were confirmed using the IMx Chlamydia blocking antibody reagent. The Syva direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test was used to aid in resolving discrepancies. The cell culture technique was performed in shell vials using cycloheximide treated McCoy cells, which were stained using a fluorescein conjugated monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: When compared against the endocervical cell culture, the IMx Chlamydia had a sensitivity of 82.1% (23/28) and a specificity of 99.3% (590/594). When compared against an expanded gold standard, the IMx Chlamydia and endocervical cell culture had sensitivities of 84.4% (27/32) and 87.5% (28/32), specificities of 100% (590/590) and 100% (590/590), positive predictive values of 100% (27/27) and 100% (28/28), negative predictive values of 99.2% (590/595) and 99.3% (590/594), and accuracies of 99.2% (617/622) and 99.4% (618/622), respectively. The prevalence rate by endocervical cell culture and the expanded gold standard were 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively. Additional urethral cell culture testing revealed a further nine patients positive from this site only, giving a 28% (9/32) increase in the number of patients diagnosed for chlamydia, thus giving an overall prevalence of 6.6% (41/622). CONCLUSIONS: The IMx Chlamydia assay is an easy and rapid test to perform, it is cost effective, and shows similar performance to endocervical cell culture in the female population studied and is thus an excellent alternative to culture for the diagnosis of C trachomatis. The study also showed the importance of urethral site sampling in these women, as endocervical testing alone will underestimate the prevalence of chlamydial genital infection.

Chlamydia Infections↗

PubMed1992

[An isolation procedure of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis].

The author devised a method which permits simultaneous isolation and identification of Chlamydia using a slide chamber with 8 wells. Contaminating bacteria were eliminated by filtration with the membrane filter. The procedure allowed isolation of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis from 11 (10.1%) out of 109 and 10 (9.2%) out of 109 otolaryngologic clinical specimens, respectively. The use of HL cells together with Hela-229 cells had been considered essential to isolate Chlamydia from specimens in this field. The conditions for isolating Chlamydia pneumoniae were similar to those for Chlamydia trachomatis. The slide chamber procedure with membrane filter treated specimens was suitable for simultaneous isolation and culture of various species of Chlamydia and allowed easy differentiation of Chlamydia pneumoniae from Chlamydia trachomatis with identification by the indirect fluorescent-antibody technique. Routine examination of clinical specimens using this procedure should be required in the future in order to better understand chlamydial infections.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

PubMed1997

[Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in Caceres].

OBJECTIVE: The study of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of infectious process caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia psittaci in our medium, Cáceres. METHOD: We are reviewed retrospectively clinical aspects of the patients with infections due to Chlamydia in the las five years. We accepted patients with compatible symptoms and serologic demonstration of recent infection with conventional complement fixation and/or microimmunofluorescence assay, the last used to distinguish Chlamydia pneumoniae. RESULTS: We are studied sixteen patients (9 males and 7 females), sixth median age 46.6 (26-70). Fifteen patients was diagnosed in winter. We found five cases of Chlamydia pneumoniae and three of Chlamydia psittaci. In the other eight cases we didn't distinguish between Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia psittaci. All patients had fever, accompanied by lung symptoms and pulmonary infiltrates in the 75% of them. The most frequent clinical information was the discord between the pulse and temperature (81%). Splenomegaly was observed in three patients (19%) being the diagnosis of them psitacosis. Nine patients had respiratory insufficiency and eight (50%) disturbance in hepatic enzymes. The clinical presentation in one patients was as unknown origin fever. CONCLUSIONS: The infection produced by Chlamydia in the hospitalary medium isn't much diagnosed in our unit. The months of winter favour the infection. We think that splenomegaly is the only different characteristic in these infections, suggesting psitacosis.

Adult↗