title: Molecular epidemiology of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Shenzhen, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate molecular epidemiology of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among patients recruited from different clinic settings in Shenzhen, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2534 patients from the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics, obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN) clinics and genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in 34 hospitals participated in the study. The C trachomatis infection was determined using COBAS Amplicor system. DNA extracted in C trachomatis-positive samples was amplified using a nested PCR based on ompA gene and then genotyped using a microsphere suspension array.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of genital C trachomatis infection was 17.7%. The prevalence in patients at STD or GUM clinics was significantly higher than that in patients at OBGYN clinics. Being male (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.5, 95% CI 1.8 to 3.4), having no consistent use of a condom with casual partners in the past 3 months (AOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.8) and having any STD symptoms (AOR 3.3, 95% CI 2.0 to 5.4) were independently associated with C trachomatis infection. Eight genotypes were identified. The most prevalent genotypes were F (22.3%), E (22.0%) and D/Da (12.7%). Other genotypes were G/Ga (8.0%), J (7.3%), K (2.7%), H (2.7%) and I/Ia (0.4%). Eighty-two samples (18.3%) were infected with multiple genotypes. Genotype D/Da among patients from GUM clinics was more common than those from STD or OBGYN clinics. Infections with genotypes G and F were statistically associated with abnormal vaginal discharge (p=0.001) and being married (p=0.014), respectively. Infection with multiple genotypes was more common among patients with a higher income (p=0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial prevalence of genital C trachomatis infection in Shenzhen suggests the importance of detection and treatment of the infection in high-risk groups.
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control, 2021 Buxin Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen 518020, China.
authors.forename: Juan-Juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guang-Lu
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fu-Chang
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Zhen-Zhou
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Chun-Lai
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tie-Jian
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Xiang-Sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012747:Sexual Partners; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult