[Prevalence of anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in preadolescent children in Congo].
Chlamydia pneumoniae (CPn) is recognised as a common cause of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Seroepidemiological studies seem to indicate a world-wide distribution of this organism. In order to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to CPn in a healthy pediatric population, we measured anti-C. pneumoniae antibodies in a group of 253 infants without respiratory tract infections, aged from 1 to 12 years. Sera were obtained from children seen at immunization clinics and schools in Lubumbashi (Congo). Antibodies to CPn were evaluated using micro-immunofluorescence assay. IgG antibody to CPn in a titre 16 was considered as positive. The antibody prevalence was found to be 25.7%. This prevalence was 6.2% in children aged from 1 to 6 years, and 37.8% in children aged from 7 to 12 years. It was less than 10% under five years, increasing to 50% at 12 years. The progressive increasing of seropositivity related to age suggests that reinfections may be frequent. This study shows an important spread of this bacteria in the preadolescent population of an African country.
Kabeya
B K
BK
Laboratoire de bactériologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Picardie, Amiens, France.
Eb
F
F
Ngwanza
I
I
Corbel
C
C
Biendo
M
M
Orfila
J
J
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D003223:Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial