Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in semen by antibody-enzyme immunoassay compared with polymerase chain reaction, antigen-enzyme immunoassay, and urethral cell culture.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the results obtained by four different techniques for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in the male genital tract.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Andrology unit of a university hospital.


METHODS
Male infertility patients.


METHODS
Analysis of semen samples and urethral swabs for the presence of C. trachomatis by recombinant antibody-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (rELISA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), antigen-enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and McCoy cell culture.


METHODS
Detection of C. trachomatis.


RESULTS
In 57 of 205 semen samples (27.8%) immunoglobulin A-antibodies against C. trachomatis were found. In contrast, only 1 of 56 semen samples (1.8%) was positive for C. trachomatis-DNA by PCR, only 1 of 139 semen samples (0.7%) was positive by antigen-EIA, and only 4 of 173 urethral swabs (2.3%) grew C. trachomatis in cell culture.


CONCLUSIONS
The discrepancy of positive results found by the antibody-rELISA and direct methods for the detection of C. trachomatis indicates successful eradication of the microorganism in > 90% of antibody-positive men. Therefore, detection of antibodies against C. trachomatis in seminal plasma appears to be of limited diagnostic value.
Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
H
H
Wolff
U
U
Neubert
M
M
Volkenandt
N
N
Zöchling
E M
EM
Schlüpen
G
G
Bezold
M
M
Meurer
D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology*; D014521:Urethra / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
D015335:Molecular Probes