Serologic diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections

The serology of various infections often caused by Chlamydia trachomatis including complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility was investigated comprehensively among diverse patient groups in a developing country using initially an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA). Any positives detected were further examined by a micro-immunofluorescence (MIF) method for the presence of type specific anti-chlamydial IgG/IgM antibodies. Conventional cell culture was carried out concurrently to compare culture results with serologic results. Among 416 patients (107 males and 309 females) C. trachomatis D-K antibodies to IgG were identified in 87 (20.9%) and to type specific IgM were identified in 11(2.6%) patients. Cell culture identified C. trachomatis in 60 patients (14.4%). C. trachomatis IgG antibodies were detectable in 6.4% of chlamydia culture negative patients.