Is the new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis present in South Africa

An investigation was conducted to determine the prevalence of the new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis (nvCT) in South Africa (SA). Four hundred and fifty-nine C. trachomatis-positive clinical specimens, tested by in-house multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were screened for the presence of the 377 bp deletion in the ORF1 of the cryptic plasmid, documented in nvCT, by means of nested PCR. All specimens generated a 630 bp amplicon in the nested PCR, indicative of wild-type CT, and no nvCT strains were identifed. Even though there was no evidence of the presence of nvCT in South Africa, continuous screening for emerging mutant strains is of epidemiological importance.