Absracts From the Third Annual Meeting of the International Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology USA New Orleans, Louisiana May 9-10, 1998
- Publisher
- Hindawi Publishing Corporation
- Year
- 1998
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 138 KB
- Volume
- 6
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1064-7449
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✦ Synopsis
Objective:
The pathogenesis of long-term sequelae in Chlamydia trachomatis infection, is poorly understood. While serology indicates previous chlamydial infection, cultures or even polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) studies are frequently negative. It is not known whether the bacterium is absent or persists in a dormant state where it evades detection. Methods: Using immunoperoxidase (IP) staining and in situ hybridization (ISH), we examined tissues of PCR and culture negative subjects. Ovarian biopsy specimens from 19 PCR negative women with pelvic adhesions and/or tubal infertility were analyzed by both methods. Samples of prostates from 10 culture negative men undergoing prostatectomy for benign hypertrophy, semen samples from PCR negative sexual partners of 14 women with PID and/or bacterial vaginosis, and 10 endometrium-tube sample-pairs from ectopic pregnancies were examined by IP only. Results: Seven of the 19 ovarian specimens tested positive for chlamydia antigen or DNA (36%). Of the 10 hypertrophic prostates examined, four (40%) were positive. Of the 14 semen samples examined, three (21%) tested positive. Tissue samples of three cases of ectopic pregnancy (EP) were positive by IP. Five of the seven patients with positive ovarian findings were seropositive. All IP positive ectopic pregnancy and semen patients were also seropositive for C. trachomatis. Conclusions: 1. Chlamydia trachomatis antigen and nucleic acid can be frequently demonstrated in asymptomatic, PCR or culture negative men and women with chronic infection. 2. Chlamydia antigens may have an etiologic role in benign prostate hypertrophy and ectopic pregnancy. 3. Antigenic material may be sexually transmissible. 4. IP and ISH identify temporarily inactive bacteria that may continue to act as immunostimulants and potentially reactivate as chlamydia infection.