Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection and Distribution of Serovars in the Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea
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Date
2007
Authors
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Publisher
Papua New Guinea Medical Journal
Abstract
We have used nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the PCR-based endonuclease
digestion method to genotype Chlamydia trachomatis serovars in 460 infected individuals from
the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Our study groups comprised women who
presented in labour to the Goroka Base Hospital, their newborn infants, symptomatic children
who presented to the hospital's Outpatients Department and men and women from 15 randomly
selected villages in the Asaro Valley. In this analysis, the major outer membrane protein
(MOMP) gene, omp1, of C. trachomatis was amplified using DNA obtained from the endocervix
of women, urine from men, and both the eye and nasopharynx of children. Amplified DNAs
were digested concurrently using Alul and a combination of EcoRI, Hinl and Hpall restriction
enzymes. The mixtures were separated on electrophoretic gels and the respective serovars
designated on the basis of resolved digested DNA patterns. Our results, which were confirmed
also by omp1 sequence data, show serovars D, E, F, G, H and L3 to be present in the studied
communities. The overall relative frequencies of these serovars were 30%, 21%, 25%, 1%, 20%
and 2% respectively, with serovars D, E, F and H accounting for 97% of these infections. Double
infections among these principal serovars were also detected in all our study groups but at a low
overall frequency of 3%. Serovar D was the major agent involved in the aetiology of chlamydial
infection in both children and adults though serovar F was the most frequent in newborn infants.
Serovar H was relatively less frequent in symptomatic children. No trachoma-related serovars
were detected, confirming the rarity of this disease in Papua New Guinea. In contrast, although
clinical cases of lymphogranuloma venereum have not been described in the country, the
detection of serovar L3 in this study suggests that it may occur. However, the association of L3
also with childhood infection indicates that it may be causing the same pathology as the serovars
D-K that are associated with non-ulcerative sexually transmitted infections.
Description
Keywords
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection, Papua New, Serovars
Citation
Suarkia, D.L., Mgone, C.S., Lehmann, D., Passey, M.E., Lupiwa, T., Paniu, M.M., Kono, J., Kakazo, M., Yeka, W. and Alpers, M.P., 2007. Chlamydia trachomatis infection and distribution of serovars in the Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea Medical Journal, 50(3/4), p.134.