Epidemiology and Clinical Manifestations of Unique Chlamydia trachomatis Isolates That Occupy Nonfusogenic Inclusions

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 184; no. 7; pp. 879 - 884
• Main Authors: Geisler, William M., Suchland, Robert J., Rockey, Daniel D., Stamm, Walter E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.10.2001; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the genital system; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Case-Control Studies; Chlamydia Infections - epidemiology; Chlamydia Infections - microbiology; Chlamydia Infections - pathology; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia trachomatis - classification; Chlamydia trachomatis - genetics; Dysuria; Epidemiology; Ethnic Groups; Female; Female Urogenital Diseases - epidemiology; Female Urogenital Diseases - microbiology; Female Urogenital Diseases - pathology; Genitalia; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; IncA protein; Incan culture; Inclusion Bodies - microbiology; Inclusion Bodies - pathology; Infections; Infectious diseases; Logistic Models; Major Articles; Male; Male Urogenital Diseases; Medical sciences; Mutation; Phenotypes; Phosphoproteins - genetics; Serotyping; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - microbiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - pathology; Symptoms; Washington - epidemiology; Washington; Human; Prevention; Membrane protein; Chlamydiaceae; Gene; Chlamydiales; Bacteria; Female; Isolate; Chlamydia trachomatis; Mutation; Epidemiology
• DOI: 10.1086/323340
• ISSN: 0022-1899

Unique Chlamydia trachomatis strains characterized by multiple nonfusing inclusions were recently described. These strains lack evidence of the protein IncA in the inclusion membrane and have mutations in the incA gene. This study evaluated the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of patients infected with nonfusing mutant strains (case patients) and compared them with patients infected with wild-type fusing strains (control subjects). Both male and female case patients had fewer signs of infection than did control subjects (P=.016 and P=.019, respectively). Female case patients also had fewer symptoms of infection (P=.02). Median inclusion-forming unit (ifu) counts were lower in male and female case patients (P=.045 and P=.135, respectively). Thus, nonfusing strains of C. trachomatis more often produce subclinical infections than do normal fusing strains and have lower median ifu counts. From a prevention perspective, the data underscore the importance of screening programs to detect and treat inapparent C. trachomatis infection