title: High prevalence detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction in endocervical samples of infertile women attending university hospital in Manaus-Amazonas, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We established for the first time the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among infertile women in Manaus Amazonas Brazil using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  106 women were studied at a public university hospital fertility clinic for infertility problems correlated with chlamydia infection. Social-economic and clinical information was obtained before medical examination to obtain samples for the amplification of C. trachomatis DNA plasmid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of chlamydial infection among infertile women was 52.8, and 51.8% of the positive participants were older than 30 years of age (p = 0.8697). Of the 56 women positive for C. trachomatis, 31 (55.4%) had never given birth, while 9 (16%) had a pregnancy resulting in fetal death. Our findings also revealed that these patients had a low socio-economic status and high unemployment (p = 0.0274), and a significant association of 5% (p < 0.05) of chlamydial infection with family income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the high prevalence of C. trachomatis, concerns about effects on reproductive health and fertility are undertaken. Therefore, we believe it is extremely necessary to implement large-scale PCR-based screening as part of routine clinical detection programs concerning preventive effects of chlamydial infection among this population.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Amazonas-UFAM, Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Biotechnology Division, Manaus/AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Norma Suely
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: de Lima Freitas
authors.forename: Cristina Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Borborema-Santos
authors.forename: Dária
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barroso Serrão das Neves
authors.forename: Cintia Mara
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Costa de Oliveira
authors.forename: Júnia Raquel
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dutra Ferreira
authors.forename: Spartaco
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Astolfi-Filho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial