title: Comparison of Chlamydia trachomatis serovars causing rectal and cervical infections.
abstract: We used monoclonal antibodies capable of distinguishing serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis to compare 314 cervical isolates with 150 rectal isolates from homosexual men. The isolates were obtained from patients attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic over a two-year study period. The serovar distribution of cervical and rectal isolates differed significantly. Serovar D/D' was found in 53% of the rectal isolates but in only 18% of cervical isolates (P less than .0001). Serovar E was the predominant serovar in cervical isolates (32%) but was found in only 6% of rectal isolates (P less than .0001). Serovars B, I/I', H, and K were isolated from 2%-7% of cervical specimens but were not found in rectal isolates. There was a significant decline in the proportion of rectal infections caused by serovar D/D' over the study period, and clustering of infections caused by other serovars was observed. Serotyping using monoclonal antibodies provides a powerful tool for investigating the epidemiology of sexually transmitted C. trachomatis infections.
authors: Sexually Transmitted Diseases Laboratory Program, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Barnes
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Rompalo
authors: W E
authors: WE
authors: Stamm
mesh_terms: D001727:Bisexuality; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012703:Serotyping; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*