title: Genital tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in women attended at a cervical cancer screening program in Northeastern from Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection alone and in combination with human papillomavirus (HPV). Furthermore, the study investigates whether the CT infection increases the risk of contracting HPV and whether the presence of both pathogens is associated with a higher prevalence of cervical lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervical samples of 1,134 asymptomatic women enrolled in a screening program for cervical cancer were analyzed. Two cervical specimens were collected from each patient, one for cytologic examination and the other for detection of CT by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using a primer pair which amplifies a specific sequence of the DNA plasmid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence rate infection was 10.9%, being 10% in the women with normal cytology, 13.8% in those with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), and 25% with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). The infection by CT did not increase the risk of acquiring HPV infection. The higher prevalence of LSIL in women co-infected with HPV and CT is possibly due to HPV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT infection was more prevalent in younger women aged up to 32 years, who had an early onset of reproductive activity and a history of having had multiple sexual partners lifelong may be at a greater risk of acquiring infection of the genital tract by C. trachomatis.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo André Freire
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Cleine Aglacy Nunes
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Érika Galvão
authors.initials: ÉG
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Raíza Nara Cunha
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Moizéis
authors.forename: Diego Breno Soares
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: Ricardo Ney Oliveira
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Cobucci
authors.forename: Thales Allyrio Araújo
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: de Medeiros Fernandes
authors.forename: Jenner Chrystian Veríssimo
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Medeiros
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.forename: Josélio Maria Galvão
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.forename: José Veríssimo
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult