Isolation of Chlamydia Trachomatis from Japanese Infancts with Pneumonia

Chlamydia trachomatis (C.trachomatis) is now being recognized as an important pathogen of distinctive pneumonia in infants. However, little is known about the pathogenic role of C.trachomatis in Japan as well as in many other Asian countries. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 87 infants with pneumonia. Conjunctival swabs were also collected from 21 babies with neonatal conjunctivitis. For the control 55 age-matched patients without respiratory tract infection were also examined. Clinical specimens were inoculated onto DEAE-Dextran-treated HeLa 229 cells and cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells. Of 87 infants with pneumonia, 22 (25.3%) were positive for C.trachomatis, whereas 3 (5.5%) out of 55 control subjects were found to be positive. Of 21 babies with neonatal conjunctivitis, 6 (28.6%) were positive. Our data suggest that C.trachomatis plays an important role in pneumonia and conjunctivitis in Japanese infants.