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Failure to detect Chlamydia pneumoniae in atherosclerotic plaques of Australian patients
D L Paterson1, J Hall, S J Rasmussen
1Department of Microbiology, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia.
Abstract:
Chlamydia pneumoniae is a recently reported, but common, respiratory tract pathogen. The organism has been detected by electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and recently culture within atherosclerotic plaques, suggesting a possible association between C. pneumoniae infection and atherosclerosis. Interestingly this association has not been found by all researchers. We examined 17 carotid endarterectomy specimens, 16 carotid arteries and 16 coronary arteries from autopsy specimens. They were examined by PCR for the presence of C. pneumoniae. In none of the 49 atherosclerotic samples examined was C. pneumoniae detected. The sensitivity of our PCR assay was rigorously tested and found to detect consistently fewer than ten elementary bodies. The association between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis is intriguing but has not yet been demonstrated in Australian patients.
Insights
Chlamydia pneumoniae, a common respiratory pathogen, was not detected in Australian atherosclerotic plaques using sensitive PCR. This study questions the link between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and atherosclerosis in this population.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common respiratory pathogen.
- Previous studies suggest a potential link between C. pneumoniae infection and atherosclerosis, but findings are inconsistent.
- The presence of C. pneumoniae in atherosclerotic plaques has been investigated globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in atherosclerotic arterial specimens from Australian patients.
- To determine if C. pneumoniae infection is associated with atherosclerosis in the Australian population.
- To validate the sensitivity of the PCR assay used for detection.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 49 human arterial specimens (17 carotid endarterectomy, 16 carotid arteries, 16 coronary arteries).
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to detect Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA.
- The PCR assay's sensitivity was confirmed to detect fewer than ten elementary bodies.
Main Results:
- Chlamydia pneumoniae was not detected in any of the 49 examined atherosclerotic arterial specimens.
- The highly sensitive PCR assay confirmed its ability to detect low levels of the pathogen.
- No evidence of C. pneumoniae was found in Australian carotid or coronary arteries.
Conclusions:
- The study did not find evidence supporting an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis in Australian patients.
- The findings suggest that the proposed link between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis may not be universal across all populations.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of C. pneumoniae in cardiovascular disease globally.