Chlamydia trachomatis infection in infertile and pregnant women in southern Brazil

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection, affecting mainly young, sexually active women. Untreated infection may lead to reproductive complications due to tubal damage. Infections during pregnancy may cause preterm labor, low birth weigh...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gomez, Deborah Beltrami, Montenegro, Ivan Sereno, Baade, Guilherme Rezende, Terraciano, Paula Barros, Schneider, Raquel de Almeida, Gotardi, Débora Helena Zanini, Cardoso, Victória Furquim dos Santos, Passos, Eduardo Pandolfi
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
Repositorio:Clinical and Biomedical Research
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:seer.ufrgs.br:article/65188
Acceso en línea:https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/hcpa/article/view/65188
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Chlamydia trachomatis
Chlamydia infections
prevalence
Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
Infertility
female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Descripción
Sumario:Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection, affecting mainly young, sexually active women. Untreated infection may lead to reproductive complications due to tubal damage. Infections during pregnancy may cause preterm labor, low birth weight, perinatal death, and neonatal conjunctivitis and pneumonia. There are few data on CT infection in Brazil. The aim of this study was to determine CT prevalence in infertile and pregnant women.Methods: A cross-sectional study included 77 infertile and 60 asymptomatic pregnant women. First-void urine was tested for CT using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Blood samples were collected for CT IgG antibodies testing using indirect immunofluorescence. A questionnaire about medical, gynecological, and sexual history was completed by all participants.Results: We found statistically similar prevalence of PCR and IgG antibodies between the groups. There was a 61% prevalence of CT IgG antibodies in infertile women and 56.7% in pregnant women. PCR was positive in only one (1.3%) infertile woman and in none pregnant women.Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of CT IgG antibody in Brazilian pregnant and infertile women, but we found a low prevalence of positive PCR in the urine samples. CT antibodies were associated with sexual behavior and smoking.Keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia infections, prevalence, nucleic acid amplification techniques; infertility, female; fluorescent antibody technique