Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae antigenin PBMNCs of healthy blood donors.
BACKGROUND
Because it has been increasingly recognized that Chlamydia pneumoniae may be linked to some chronic inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, detection of this pathogen in blood from patients may be valuable in the diagnosis of such diseases. However, the prevalence of chlamydia in the blood of healthy donors has not yet been extensively studied.


METHODS
The presence of C. pneumoniae in PBMNCs obtained from healthy persons who donated blood for blood transfusion was assessed by a PCR that was specific for the C. pneumoniae 16S rRNA gene and by the use of staining with FITC-conjugated chlamydia MoAb.


RESULTS
Twenty-one (8.9%) of 237 blood samples tested showed the presence of C. pneumoniae DNA and antigen in the PBMNCs. There was no significant difference in the presence of chlamydia in blood according to sex or to age between 20 and 59 years of age. However, a possible seasonal variation in the presence of chlamydia in blood from healthy donors was suggested by the results obtained.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant percentage of healthy donors carry C. pneumoniae, which may be a risk factor for some chronic diseases.
Haranaga
S
S
Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA.
Yamaguchi
H
H
Leparc
G F
GF
Friedman
H
H
Yamamoto
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D012016:Reference Values
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial