Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis intrauterine infection using polymerase chain reaction on chorionic villi.
OBJECTIVE
To detect Chlamydia trachomatis intrauterine infection in the early pregnancy by using chorionic villi.


METHODS
The C. trachomatis infection in pregnant women was investigated by cervical specimens and Clearview kits. DNA of chorionic villi was extracted and the gene of a major outer membrane protein of C. trachomatis was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
120 cervical specimens of the pregnant women were analyzed and 10 cervical specimens were positive for C. trachomatis infection. In this study, the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was approx. 8.3%. Fifty-nine specimens of chorionic villi and three positive specimens of C. trachomatis infection were analyzed by PCR. The incidence of C. trachomatis intrauterine infection in the early pregnancy was 5.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
The vertical transmission of C. trachomatis infection in the early pregnancy may be a pathway of intrauterine infection. Chorionic villus sampling in early pregnancy and the PCR method could be developed as a technique for prenatal diagnosis of C. trachomatis intrauterine infection.
Dong
Z W
ZW
Department of Molecular Biology, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.
Li
Y
Y
Zhang
L Y
LY
Liu
R M
RM
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002824:Chorionic Villi; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*