title: Chlamydia trachomatis infection in mothers with preterm delivery and in their newborn infants.
abstract: We studied Chlamydia trachomatis infection in mothers with preterm delivery and intrauterine transmission of the infection to their offspring. Forty-one mothers with preterm labour and their newborn infants (n=50) were studied for the presence of C. trachomatis infection using microimmunofluorescence test for detection of serum antibodies against C trachomatis and polymerase chain reaction for detection of C. trachomatis-specific DNA in mucosal swabs. Antibodies to C trachomatis were found in serum of 12 mothers (29%). Five of fourteen mothers had C. trachomatis DNA in cervical specimens. Eighteen neonates were born to the 14 mothers with positive serology and/or C. trachomatis DNA. C. trachomatis DNA was detected in specimens from 10 of the 18 neonates (55.5%). Three of the available cord blood samples contained C trachomatis IgM antibodies. Our results strongly suggest that mothers and their preterm babies may benefit from screening for active C. trachomatis infection.
authors.affiliation: Haartman Institute, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gencay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koskiniemi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fellman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ammala
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaheri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puolakkainen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial