title: Chlamydia trachomatis Pgp3 Antibody Persists and Correlates with Self-Reported Infection and Behavioural Risks in a Blinded Cohort Study.
abstract: Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) serological studies in populations could help monitor changes in lifetime cumulative risk of infection. We developed a double-antigen sandwich ELISA based on the Ct-specific Pgp3 antigen, then tested blind stored sera from over 800 participants in a New Zealand birth cohort from Dunedin at ages 26, 32 and 38. The double-antigen sandwich ELISA was more sensitive than our previously characterised indirect Pgp3 ELISA. Pgp3 antibody was detected more often in women compared to men and correlated with increasing numbers of sexual partners, self-reported Ct, and younger age at sexual debut in both women and men. At age 26, 24.1% (99/411) of women were Pgp3 seropositive, as were 79.5% (35/44) of those reporting Ct infection; Pgp3 antibody persisted to age 38 in 96.5% (83/86). In men at age 26, the figures were 10.7% (47/442) and 25.0% (6/24), respectively, with high (83.9%) antibody persistence to age 38. At age 38, among those Pgp3 seropositive, 63.3% of women and 83.1% of men had not reported Ct infection. Thus, Ct-specific Pgp3 antibody was detected in most women reporting Ct infection and correlated with risk of infection in those who did not, with most infections remaining undetected. As this antibody persisted for at least twelve years in 96% of these women, serology could be used to evaluate Ct prevention programmes among women.
authors.affiliation: Jefferiss Trust Laboratories, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.|School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.affiliation: Jefferiss Trust Laboratories, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gillian S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Righarts
authors.affiliation: Jefferiss Trust Laboratories, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sueli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.|National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Evaluation of Interventions in partnership with Public Health England, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kounali
authors.affiliation: Public Health for England, Colindale, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dhanraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.affiliation: Jefferiss Trust Laboratories, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winston
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection and Immunity, Imperial College Healthcare Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nigel P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.affiliation: Jefferiss Trust Laboratories, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Myra O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: McClure
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012725:Sexual Behavior
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C082169:pgp3 protein, Chlamydia