Limitations of serodiagnosis in chlamydial genital tract infections.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-1996
Abstract
Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis results in the formation of a variety of antibodies with group, species, subspecies and serovarspecificity. Sera from patients with genital tract infections often show broad reactivity in serological tests. This may be due to the presence of cross-reacting antibodies, repeated infections by different serotypes or concurrent genital and respiratory infections by different chlamydial species. Other factors contributing to difficulties in interpretation include how antibody titres in acute mucosal infections, the occurrence of latent infections and reactivations, and the persistence of IgG which does not allow the differentiation of past from current infections. For these reasons, serology alone is inadequate for the diagnosis of uncomplicated lower genital tract infections. In upper genital tract infections, however, because of difficulties with sampling from the infected site, a positive serology may be the only indications of chlamydial involvement. This paper discusses the principles of chlamydial antibody assays, difficulties with their interpretation and their role in the diagnosis of upper and lower genital tract infections.
Keywords
Chlamydia trachomatis/immunology, Chlamydia trachomatis/isolation & purification, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Publication Title
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
Volume
25
Issue
2
Additional Information
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia