[Chlamydia trachomatis immunotypes in trachoma epidemic areas of north China]

The distribution of various immunotypes of C. trachomatis in epidemic areas of North China was studied by the micro-immunofluorescence (Micro-IF) test of tears and sera from 104 patients with trachoma. IgG antibody to C. trachomatis was positive in 64 cases, and the immunotypes were type B (78.1%) and type C (21.9%). The TE-55 strain determined as type I in 1966 was confirmed to be type C. The Micro-IF test that quantitated antichlamydial IgG antibody in tears was compared with ELISA in the detection of C. trachomatis in 59 individuals. The sensitivity and specificity of the Micro-IF test were 91.5% and 100% respectively.