Chlamydia trachomatis genotypes: correlation with clinical manifestations of infection and patients' characteristics.
In 1994 Chlamydia trachomatis specimens from 175 men and 135 women attending a clinic for treatment of sexually transmitted disease were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism of the omp1 gene. Information about the patients was collected at their initial visit. The associations between C. trachomatis genotype and patients' self-reported symptoms, clinical signs, and characteristics were studied. Genotypes E, F, and D/D-predominated (men: 71%; women: 60%). Five specimens (1.6%) showed evidence of mixed infections. Among men, complaints of urethral discharge and dysuria were most commonly associated with genotypes H and J (100% vs. 59%-68% for the other genotypes; P = .03); in addition, > or = 10 leukocytes per microscopic field were least often observed for genotypes G/Ga (19% vs. 59%-65% for the other genotypes; P = .01). Women's reports of lower abdominal pain were more often associated with F, G group genotypes (32%) than with B-complex (6%) or C-complex (13%) genotypes (P = .02). Certain symptoms of genital C. trachomatis infection were related to the infecting genotype. Further work will be necessary and should involve markers of the host immune response.
van Duynhoven
Y T
YT
Department for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Ossewaarde
J M
JM
Derksen-Nawrocki
R P
RP
van der Meijden
W I
WI
van de Laar
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior