Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
09:11
A Human Fallopian Tube Model for Investigation of C. trachomatis Infections
Published on: August 11, 2012
Role of Chlamydia trachomatis in miscarriage
David Baud1, Genevieve Goy, Katia Jaton
1University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|September 6, 2011
Summary
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is linked to a higher risk of miscarriage. Evidence includes increased antibodies and detectable DNA in miscarriage cases, supporting its role in pregnancy loss.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection.
- Its role in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage, requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and miscarriage.
- To determine if C. trachomatis plays a causal role in spontaneous abortion.
Main Methods:
- Prospective collection of serum, cervicovaginal swabs, and placental samples from 386 women.
- Serological testing for C. trachomatis immunoglobulin G (IgG).
- Molecular detection of C. trachomatis DNA in placental and conception products using PCR and immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- Higher prevalence of C. trachomatis IgG antibodies in women with miscarriage (15.2%) compared to controls (7.3%).
- Significantly higher detection rates of C. trachomatis DNA in placental/conception samples from the miscarriage group (4%) versus controls (0.7%).
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed C. trachomatis presence in placental tissue from positive PCR cases.
Conclusions:
- Serological and molecular evidence strongly associates Chlamydia trachomatis infection with miscarriage.
- These findings support C. trachomatis as a contributing factor to spontaneous abortion.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Trichomoniasis
Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the United States. This extracellular parasite primarily colonizes the lower genitourinary tract in women—particularly the vagina—and in men, the urethra and prostate. Its structural and functional adaptations enable its survival, motility, and pathogenicity within the host environment.Structural Features and Host EntryT.
01:29Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae
The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic of...
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
02:57Meiosis vs. Mitosis
Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
01:27Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...