title: Herpetic and chlamydial genital infections in Algiers, Algeria: value of the Papanicolaou staining.
abstract: The prevalence of herpetic and chlamydial genital infections was studied in 309 women attending an outpatient gynecology clinic (Algiers, Algeria). Cell culture, IF on smears and Papanicolaou staining were the methods used for HSV diagnosis, serology by the MIF method and Papanicolaou staining were used for Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosis. The prevalence of herpetic genital infection was estimated at 7.2% by cell culture, 89% by IF method, and 3.9% using the Papanicolaou staining. Specific anti-Chlamydia trachomatis IgG with a titer greater than or equal to 16 were found in 35.7% out of 95 sera, and 18% out of the 95 women had an IgG titer greater than or equal to 64. If we consider IgG titer greater than or equal to 64 as significant for an active chlamydial genital infection, the concordance rate between the Papanicolaou staining and the MIF method is of 48%. However, the Papanicolaou method appears as insensitive for both the HSV and Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosis. The relative specificity of this method for HSV diagnosis accounts for its use as a screening test.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000462:Algeria; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods*