DETERMINATION OF ASYMPTOMATIC CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS INFECTIONS BY OMP1 GENE BASED- PCR

Received: 25/Nov/2007, Accepted: 6/Feb/2008 Objective: The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of genital C. trachomatis infection in asymptomatic women by using highly sensitive nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in urine sample. Materials and Methods: One hundred-forty asymptomatic women were randomly selected from those who attended gynecology out patient department of Hazraat e Rasool Hospital in Tehran. First catch urine specimen were collected from all the participants. DNA extraction was performed by means of High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit (HPPTP) according to the manufacture’s instructions. Extracted DNA was tested by omp1 gene based nested-PCR, using sets of primers to amplify C. trachomatis omp1 gene. Visualization of a 1027 bp fragment from omp1 gene in agarose gel electrophoresis was considered as a positive result. Results: In total, 140 urines were tested for determination of C. trachomatis infection. C. trachomatis omp-1 was detected in 22.1% of cases (31/140). The overall prevalence rates of C. trachomatis in the urine sample as determined by omp1 based nested-PCR were 4.3% in group I (age, 44 years). The highest prevalence of C. trachomatis infection (12.1%) was seen in women aged 25-34 years. This finding was not statistically significant (p=0.710). Also, there was not relation between C. trachomatis infection and some probable risk factors such as young age (<25 years), STD history and missing use of barrier contraceptive in this study. Conclusion: The prevalence of C.trachomatis infection in the women not seeking health care warrants more comprehensive study using high sensitive omp1 based nestedPCR to identify and treat a large number of infected women in Iran.