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Chlamydial Infections (chlamydial + infections)
Selected AbstractsORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Multi-Subunit Chlamydial Vaccine Induces Antibody and Cell-Mediated Immunity in Immunized Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus): Comparison of Three Different AdjuvantsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Alison J. Carey Citation Carey AJ, Timms P, Rawlinson G, Brumm J, Nilsson K, Harris JM, Beagley KW. A multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine induces antibody and cell-mediated immunity in immunized koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus): comparison of three different adjuvants. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 161,172 Problem, Chlamydial infections represent a major threat to the survival of the koala. Infections caused by Chlamydia pecorum cause blindness, infertility, pneumonia and urinary tract infections and represent a threat to the survival of the species. Little is known about the immune response in koalas, or the safety of commonly used adjuvants for induction of protective systemic and mucosal immunity. Method of study, In the present study, we immunized 18 healthy female koalas subcutaneously with a combination of three chlamydial antigens [major outer membrane protein (MOMP), NrdB and TC0512 (Omp85)] mixed with one of three different adjuvants [Alhydrogel, Immunostimulating Complex (ISC) and TiterMax Gold]. Results, All adjuvants induced strong neutralizing IgG responses in plasma against the three antigens with prolonged responses lasting more than 270 days seen in Alhydrogel and ISC immunized animals. Cloacal IgG responses lasting >270 days were also induced in ISC-immunized animals. Chlamydia -specific peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferative responses were elicited by both Alhydrogel and ISC, and these lasted >270 days in the ISC group. Conclusion, The data show that a multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine, given subcutaneously, can elicit Chlamydia -specific cell-mediated and antibody responses in the koala demonstrating that the development of a protective vaccine is feasible. [source] Diagnostic value of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the recombinant CT694 species-specific protein of Chlamydia trachomatisJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2009O. Frikha-Gargouri Abstract Aim:, To study the performance of the CT694 protein in relation to the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) and the pELISA tests for the serodiagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Methods and Results:, The CT694 protein was produced as recombinant protein and was used as antigen in ELISA test for the detection of C. trachomatis IgG antibodies. The performance of the developed ELISA test was compared to the MIF test at two cut-off values of 16 and 64, and to the specific pELISA test using a panel of 342 sera. These sera were from children MIF C. trachomatis and Chlamydophila pneumoniae negative, patients MIF C. pneumoniae positive, patients MIF C. trachomatis positive, patients suspected to have chlamydial infections diagnosed by the Cobas Amplicor test, healthy blood donors and prostitutes. Our results indicate that the developed ELISA test has performed better compared with the MIF and the pELISA tests. The highest performance was obtained when comparing the developed ELISA test in relation to the pELISA, yielding an overall sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 87% respectively. Conclusions:, The CT694 ELISA showed the best performance when compared to the species-specific pELISA test and may be used for the serodiagnosis of C. trachomatis infections. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The CT694 ELISA test responds to the criteria of both sensitivity and specificity according to the MIF and pELISA tests and may be used for serodiagnosis of C. trachomatis infections. [source] Update on the impact of Chlamydia trachomatis infection on male fertilityANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2004G. F. Gonzales Summary. With approximately 90 million cases annually, infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial disease in the world. Considering that these infections are often asymptomatic and cause major complications like acute pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility or infant pneumonia, the estimated costs for diagnosis and treatment in the USA amounts to 2.2 million US dollars for each 500 cases. Therefore, there is a high need for correct, quick and cost-effective diagnosis and treatment of this urogenital tract infection. New innovative therapies provide good results with regard to efficacy and patients' compliance. The success rates of treatments are at least 95%. However, the occurrence of antibiotic resistance should not be ignored and new treatment schemes must be developed. The state-of-the-art of diagnosis and treatment of chlamydial infections as well as the pathophysiology is discussed in this review. In conclusion, infections with C. trachomatis is an important public health problem, especially in third world and developing countries, and more socio-economic studies linking secondary prevention of chlamydial infections, infertility and adverse pregnancy outcome are needed to understand more of its aetiology. In addition, diagnosis and treatment should be improved. Data in men revealed that past infections but not present infections are more related to male infertility. There is still controversial results. In future studies, function of the seminal vesicles and evaluation of the antioxidant capacity should be taken into account when role of C. trachomatis infection on male fertility is assessed. [source] Chlamydiae as etiologic agents in chronic undifferentiated spondylarthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 5 2009John D. Carter Objective The majority of patients with Chlamydia -induced reactive arthritis do not present with the classic triad of arthritis, conjunctivitis/iritis, and urethritis. Moreover, acute chlamydial infections are often asymptomatic. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of synovial Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae infections in patients with chronic undifferentiated spondylarthritis (uSpA). Methods Study patients met the European Spondylarthropathy Study Group criteria for SpA, without evidence of ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, or preceding dysentery. Symptoms were present for ,6 months. Each patient underwent a synovial biopsy; tissue and concomitantly obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for C trachomatis and C pneumoniae DNA. Other data collected on the day of the biopsy included standard demographic information and medical history, including any known history of C trachomatis or C pneumoniae. Physical examination (including joint count, evaluation for dactylitis and/or enthesitis, and skin examination) and HLA,B27 typing were performed. Synovial tissue (ST) samples from 167 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were used as controls. Results Twenty-six patients met the entry criteria and underwent synovial biopsy (25 knee, 1 wrist). Sixteen of them (62%) were positive for C trachomatis and/or C pneumoniae DNA (10 for C trachomatis, 4 for C pneumoniae, and 2 for both). PCR analysis of ST revealed the presence of Chlamydia significantly more frequently in patients with uSpA than in OA controls (P < 0.0001). No specific clinical characteristics differentiated Chlamydia -positive from Chlamydia -negative patients. PBMCs from 4 of the 26 uSpA patients (15%) were positive for Chlamydia, and Chlamydia was found in ST from 2 of these 4 patients. No significant correlation between PCR positivity and HLA,B27 positivity was found. Conclusion The frequency of Chlamydia -positive ST samples, as determined by PCR, was found to be significantly higher in patients with uSpA than in patients with OA. Our results suggest that in many patients with uSpA, chlamydial infection, which is often occult, may be the cause. [source] The importance of chlamydial infections in obstetrics and gynaecology: An updateAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Marian J. CURRIE Abstract Chlamydia is now the most common notifiable infectious disease in many countries, a fact that has serious ramifications for the reproductive health of women. This review highlights the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features and reproductive sequelae of the infection. Current screening and management methods are outlined. Obstetricians and gynaecologists are ideally placed to play a major role in the primary prevention of this significant sexually transmitted infection. [source] Chlamydia trachomatis: time for screening?CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 9 2005A. Spiliopoulou Abstract Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease in industrialised countries, particularly among young people. The consequences of chlamydial infection may involve urethritis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, tubal factor infertility, epididymitis and prostatitis. In addition, chlamydial infection increases the risk of acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus and has been associated with cervical cancer. Although screening programmes exist in a number of countries, the continuously increasing prevalence of chlamydial infections demonstrates the necessity for health authorities to establish effective screening policies, and the importance of defining a comprehensive European screening policy is emerging. [source] | ||||||||||