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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Forward Genetic Approaches in Chlamydia trachomatis
Published on: October 23, 2013
Still no evidence of new variant Chlamydia trachomatis in England and Wales
Sarah Alexander1, Filomeno Coelho da Silva, Fathiya Alhadi
1Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory, Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London, NW9 5HT, UK. Sarah.Alexander@hpa.org.uk
Background:
New variant Chlamydia trachomatis (nvCT) remains an important public health concern and in 2008 four cases of nvCT were reported in Scotland. The present study set out to determine whether nvCT was present in England and Wales.
Methods:
1054 clinical specimens, which had been confirmed as chlamydia positive (using an nvCT unaffected platform) at nine different diagnostic laboratories throughout England and Wales, were examined for the presence of the 377 bp nvCT deletion.
Results:
92% (968/1054) of specimens examined were confirmed as wild-type C. trachomatis. The remaining 86 specimens were found to be untypeable, which was probably due to low levels of DNA. No nvCT specimens were identified.
Conclusions:
There is currently no evidence that nvCT is present in England and Wales; however, laboratories using nvCT-affected platform should remain vigilant.
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