title: Genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis in rectal and pharyngeal specimens: identification of LGV genotypes in Finland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis L types have recently emerged in Europe among HIV-positive men having sex with men. Our aim was to introduce a genotyping strategy suitable for a diagnostic laboratory using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for detection of C trachomatis and to investigate the prevalence of LGV types in rectal and pharyngeal specimens in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aptima Combo 2 (Gen-Probe) was used to detect C trachomatis in swabs. Altogether 140 C trachomatis NAAT-positive rectal and pharyngeal samples were genotyped by pmpH and ompA real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 140 NAAT-positive rectal and pharyngeal specimens, 114 (81%) were successfully typed by pmpH PCR. One hundred and four samples contained non-LGV, nine samples LGV and one sample both non-LGV and LGV C trachomatis types. The C trachomatis LGV types were mainly found in rectal samples. Six of the L types were confirmed to be genotype L2b and two were L2 with ompA PCR and sequencing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience suggests that genotyping C trachomatis by pmpH PCR can be introduced as a function of a diagnostic laboratory already using NAAT for detection of C trachomatis. The data show that LGV infections occur also in Finland. LGV should be taken into account when considering treatment and management of rectal C trachomatis infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Suvi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hiltunen-Back
authors.forename: Mirja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puolakkainen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008219:Lymphogranuloma Venereum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology / Q000379:methods; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C410162:PmpH protein, Chlamydia trachomatis; C078167:OMPA outer membrane proteins