Chlamydia infection status in trachoma trichiasis patients in two different trachoma endemic countries

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to characterize the chlamydial infection status of subjects with trachomatous trichiasis (TT) and trachoma negative controls in two different trachoma endemic regions.

Methods: 100 patients scheduled for trichiasis surgery (TT) and 100 matched controls (CO) without signs of trachoma were randomly selected in an ophthalmology department in Jimma, Ethiopia and in a field surgery clinic in Sudan. qPCR was used to detect genomic DNA for Chlamydiaceae in conjunctival swabs and urine samples. Antibody responses to Chlamydiae pneumoniae (ChPn), Chlamidiae trachomatis (ChT), chlamydial LPS and ChT-Hsp60 were determined in sera. 1D SDS-PAGE was performed against ChT proteins in 20 TT and 20 CO.

Results: 95,4% of TT vs. 91,4% of CO were found positive for anti-ChPn IgG . 5,8% of TT vs. 1,2% of CO were found positive for anti-ChPn IgM, and 36,8% vs 29,6% for anti-ChPn IgA. 37,93% of TT vs 26% of CO were positive for anti-ChT IgG and 12,6% vs 9,88% for anti-ChT IgA. IgG Abs against ChT Hsp60 were detected in 78,1% of TT vs 75,3% of CO. 1D SDS-PAGE revealed differences in antigen mapping profiles between TT and negative subjects.

Conclusions: No assocation between ChT-Hsp60 antibodies and TT as well as high positivity rates for ChPn antibodies in both groups were found.

Keywords: 736 trachoma • 433 bacterial disease