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Chlamydia


Journal of Clinical Pathology 2002;55:355-358
© 2002 Journal of Clinical Pathology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

 

Prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae in an Israeli population without clinical evidence of respiratory infection

 

M Ben-Yaakov 1, G Eshel 2, L Zaksonski 2, Z Lazarovich1 and I Boldur 1,3

 

  1. Department of Microbiology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, 70300 Israel
  2. Division of Pediatrics, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Israel
  3. Department of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900 Israel

Correspondence to: Dr M Ben-Yaakov, Department of Microbiology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, 70300 Israel; iboldur@asaf.health.gov.il

 

Accepted for publication 29 October 2001


Reprinted with expressed permission of the BMJ Publishing Group
Copyright © Journal of Clinical Pathology

Abstract

 

Aims: To estimate the occurrence of recent, past, and "persistent" infections with Chlamydia pneumoniae—as indicated by serology—in an Israeli population without clinical evidence of respiratory infection.

Methods: Serum samples from 402 subjects (172 children and 230 adults), without known respiratory symptoms, were collected. Antibodies to C pneumoniae (IgG, IgA, and IgM) were evaluated using the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) assay. Antibody prevalence and indication of recent, past, and persistent infections were calculated and their distribution determined according to age, sex, and season.

Results: Antibodies to C pneumoniae were detected in 53 children (31%) and 171 adults (74%). Recent infection was indicated in only one of 50 children under 5 years of age, in nine of 122 older children, and in 19 of 230 adults. IgM antibodies were detected in nine children, but only in three adults. Past infection was indicated in six of 96 young children (aged 1–10 years), in 28 of 76 teenagers, and in 128 of 230 adults. Persistent infection was indicated in three young children, in six teenagers, and in 24 adults, with a significantly higher frequency (p = 0.012) in men (18 of 117) than in women (six of 113). No seasonal differences could be detected

 

Copyright © Journal of Clinical Pathology by BMJ Publishing Group.
http://jcp.bmjjournals.com/

 

Full article at : http://jcp.bmjjournals.com/content/55/5/355 ( Free Registration Required )


or at PubMedCentral : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1769655/

 

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