OmpA genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis from Korean female sex workers

To determine ompA genotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis in female commercial sex workers (FCSW) in Korea.

To accomplish this, 40 endo-cervical chlamydial PCR positive samples from FCSWs in one city of Korea were collected from April 2004 to August 2004. OmpA gene of C. trachomatis from the extracted genomic DNA was amplified and read whole variable domains and some constant domains sequences.

The deduced serovars found, in descending order of prevalence, were E (45%), F (20%), G (15%), D (5%), H (5%), J (2.5%), and mixed type (7.5%). While we found various serovars in limited FCSWs, only one genotype was found in each E, F, G, D, H, and J type.

The serotype E was the most prevalent type in commercial sex workers and ompA DNA polymorphism in each serovar was not a typical finding in FCSWs. Interestingly, the prevalence of serovar G, KS_G1 in our study, was higher in Pacific cities of U.S.A. than that in European studies or other cities in U.S.A. It may suggest that the high prevalence of KS_G1 in Korea has a relation with the high incidence of serovar G in Pacific cities in U.S.A.