Chlamydia: Prevelance study of Turkish population
M.M. Inal1, S.
Kose2, K. Ertopcu1, F. Demirci1, A. Donmez1, D. Oztekin1, I. Ozelmas1, S. Tinar1
1Aegean Obst&Gyn Teaching and Research Hospital, Family Planning Department,
Izmir, Turkey, and 2Tepecik Teaching and Research Hospital, Department of
Microbiology, Izmir, Turkey
Objective To establish the prevalence of Chlamydial
infection in Turkish population by investigation of Chlamydia trachomatis and
Chlamydia pneumoniae DNAs in cervical specimens by using non-amplified nucleic
acid hybridization assay.
Design and setting In between March 2003 and August
2004, 1353 women applied to Family Planning Department of our hospital, because
of routine follow-up of contraceptive method use, were randomly enrolled into
the study. Cervical smears and swabs for Chlamydial DNA study were obtained from
all of the cases. Chlamydial DNA in cervical specimens were investigated by Pace
2 system (Gen-Probe Incorporated, SanDiego, CA, USA) and also the cytologic
specimens were studied simultaneously.
Results The mean age of 1353 cases was 34.69 ± 8.16 with a range in between 17 and 73 years. The overall
Chlamydial DNA
positivity was 2.66% (36 cases) enrolling both Chlamydia trachomatis and
Chlamydia pneumoniae. Immunoglobulins IgG and IgM of C.trachomatis and
C.pneumoniae
were also studied A statistical significant difference was also observed in
between Chlamydia-DNA (+) and Chlamydia-DNA (-) cases with cervical pathologies.
A strong correlation of Chlamydia-DNA positivity with cervical erosions was
observed.
Conclusion The strong correlation in between Chlamydia-DNA positivity
and cervical erosions and cervicitis reveals that Chlamydial testing should be
performed in order to prevent long term adverse effects of Chlamydial infections.
KEY WORDS Chlamydia infection, Chlamydia-DNA,
Prevalence, Cervical pathology