Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Detection of infections of the eye withChlamydia trachomatis by the polymerase chain reaction

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
International Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic feasibility of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of infections with Chlamydia trachomatis in eye swabs from patients with conjunctivitis, and to establish the basic technique of the PCR for epidemiological survey. The results of the PCR were compared with the Mikro Trak immunofluorescence assay (IFA). From 49 specimens of patients with conjunctivitis, 31 were found positive by PCR (63%) and 23 by IFA (47%). On the other hand, in 10 normal eye specimens and 10 non-Chlamydia trachoma conjunctivitis specimens no Chlamydia-trachomatis was detected.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Grayston JT, Wang SP, New knowledge of Chlamydia and the diseases they cause. J Infect Dis 1975; 132: 87–105.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Prevention of blindness. Prevalence and severity of trachoma. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 1992; 67: 41–3.

  3. Darougar S, Monnickendam MA, Woodland RM. Management and prevention of ocular viral and chlamydial infections. Crit Rev Microbiol 1989; 16: 369–418.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hu C. An epidemiology survey of trachoma in Shunyi county, Beijing. Chin J Ophthalmol 1989; 25: 175–8.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wei JX. Feasibility of the new WHO trachoma grading system in China. Chin J Ophthalmol 1992; 28: 270–2.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Zhang L. Chlamydia trachomatis immunotypes in trachoma epidemic areas of North China. Chin J Ophthalmol 1991; 27: 67–70.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hall CJ, Nelder C. Comparison of three non-culture techniques for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in genital tract specimens. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1989; 8: 866–70.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Peterson EM, Oda R, Alexander R, de la MazaLM. Molecular techniques for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. J Clin Microbiol 1989; 27: 2359–63.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Schachter J, Moncada J, Dawson CR, Sheppard J, Courtright P, Said M et al. Nonculture methods for diagnosing chlamydial infection in patients with trachoma; a clue to the pathogenesis of the disease. J Infect Dis 1988; 158: 1347–52.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Taylor HR, Rapoza PA, West S, Johnson S, Munoz B, Katala S et al. The epidemiology of infection in trachoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1989; 30: 1823–33.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dean D, Palmer L, Pant CR, Courtright P, Falkow S, O'Hanley P. Use of a Chlamydia trachomatis DNA probe for detection of ocular chlamydiae. J Clin Microbiol 1989; 27: 1062–7.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Dulith B, Bebear C, Rodriguez P, Vekris A, Bonnet J, Garret M. Specific amplification of a DNA sequence common to all Chlamydia trachomatis serovars using the polymerase chain reaction. Res Microbiol 1989; 140: 7–16.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Claas HC, Melchers WJ, de Bruijn IH, de Graaf M, van Dijk WC, Lindeman J, Quint WG. Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in clinical specimens by the polymerase chain reaction. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1990; 9: 864–8.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lucotle G, Petit MC, Francois MH. Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by use of polymerase chain reaction. Molec Cell Probes 1992; 6: 89–92.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Claas HCJ, Wagenvoort JHT, Niesters HGM, van Rijsoort-Vos JH, Tio TT, Quint WGV. Diagnostic value of the polymerase chain reaction for Chlamydia detection as determined in a follow-up study. J Clin Microbiol 1991; 29: 42–5.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T. Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual, 2nd edition, Cold Spring Harbor laboratory press, 1989.

  17. Weisburg WG, Hatch TP, Woese CR. Eubacterial origin of Chlamydiae. J Bacteriol 1986; 167: 570–4.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Sriprakash KS, Macavoy ES. Characterization and sequence of a plasmid from the trachoma biovar of Chlamydia trachomatis. Plasmid 1987; 18: 205–14.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Saiki RK, Scharf S, Faloona F, Mullis KB, Horn GT, Erlich HA et al. Enzymatic amplification of beta-globin genomic sequences and restriction site analysis for diagnosis of sickle cell anemia. Science 1985; 230: 1350–4.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Dawson CR, Jones BR, Tarizzo ML. Guide to trachoma control in programmes for the prevention of blindness. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Elbagir A, Mardh PA. Evaluation of Chlamydia tests in early trachoma. APMIS 1990; 98: 276–80.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Virology, Erasmus University, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Eric C. J. Claas

  2. Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, 17 Hou Gou Lane, 100005, Chongwenmen, Beijing, China

    Jun Fan, Wen H. Zhang, Yu Y. Wu & Xiou Y. Jing

Authors
  1. Jun Fan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wen H. Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yu Y. Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xiou Y. Jing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Eric C. J. Claas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fan, J., Zhang, W.H., Wu, Y.Y. et al. Detection of infections of the eye withChlamydia trachomatis by the polymerase chain reaction. Int Ophthalmol 17, 327–330 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915738

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915738

Key words

Search

Navigation