Detección de Chlamydia spp. en leucocitos de sangre periférica de ovinos sin aborto previo / Detection of Chlamydia spp. In Peripheral Blood Leukocytes in Ewes without any Previous Abortion

Resumen El aborto enzootico ovino es una enfermedad causada por Chlamydia abortus. Es considerada una zoonosis y una de las principales causas de pérdidas económicas en estas explotaciones. Este trabajo se enfocó en utilizar el cultivo de leucocitos de animales sin signos de abortos y la detección de anticuerpos para determinar la posible presencia de C. abortus en explotaciones de traspatio. Se obtuvieron 42 muestras de sangre periférica de ovejas de diferentes poblaciones. La detección de Chlamydia abortus se realizó mediante la tinción de Giemsa y la técnica de PCR. La detección de anticuerpos anti-C. abortus se dio mediante una técnica de ELISA comercial. Los resultados mostraron 21 muestras positivas mediante la técnica de PCR, de las cuales solo 10 fueron positivas mediante la técnica de Giemsa, mientras que 22 sueros mostraron anticuerpos anti-C. abortus. En este estudio el 38,1 % de las muestras fueron positivas a la infección por C. abortus, como se confirmó mediante PCR y serología. En conclusión, los leucocitos de sangre periférica pueden ser útiles para detectar una infección por Chlamydia spp. en explotaciones sin historial de abortos, con lo que se puede conocer la prevalencia real del aborto enzootico ovino en México.

Abstract The Ewes Enzootic Abortion is a disease caused byChlamydia abortus. It is deemed a zoonosis and one of the leading causes of financial losses in this type of business. This article focuses on using the culture of leukocytes from animals without any abortion symptoms and antibody detection to determine the potential presence ofC. abortusin backyard exploitations. Forty-two samples of peripheral blood were obtained from ewes in different populations. The detection ofChlamydia abortuswas carried out by using the Giemsa dye and PCR technique. Anti-C. Abortusantibody detection was performed through a commercial ELISA technique. Results showed 21 positive samples using the PCR, and only ten were positive according to the Giemsa dye, while 22 serum samples showed anti-C. abortusantibody. In this study, 38.1% of the samples were positive for theC. abortusinfection, as verified with the PCR and serology. In conclusion, peripheral blood leukocytes can be helpful to detect an infection caused byChlamydiaspp. Animal exploitation without any previous abortion allows knowing the real prevalence of ewes' enzootic abortion in Mexico.

Prevalencia de Chlamydia trachomatis en mujeres del Hospital General de Zona No. 29 / Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence in women from the Hospital General de Zona No. 29

Introducción: la Chlamydia trachomatis es la principal causa de infecciones bacterianas de transmisión sexual a nivel mundial. Se estima que cada año se producen 131 millones de casos. Cursa de manera asintomática, pero la infección ascendente en mujeres puede conducir a la enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica, embarazo ectópico e infertilidad. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de C. trachomatis en mujeres de población abierta que acuden al Hospital General de Zona No. 29. Material y métodos: se realizó la identificación de C. trachomatis por pruebas de PCR a 200 muestras de exudado vaginal y se determinó su genotipo. Paralelamente, se realizó el diagnóstico microbiológico de rutina. Resultados: la prevalencia de C. trachomatis fue del 8.5% (17/200) con una concomitancia significativa de p = 0.006 con Gardnerella vaginalis (riesgo relativo de 2.871, IC95%: 1.574-5.236). Asimismo, se identificó C. trachomatis en cinco muestras como el único agente etiológico. Dieciséis cepas de C. trachomatis pertenecieron al genotipo F. Una cepa identificada de C. trachomatis presentó motivos genéticos similares a la variante mexicana reportada en 2019. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de C. trachomatis en la población estudiada nos indica la necesidad de implementar técnicas de diagnóstico para esta bacteria. El uso de la PCR permite realizar una determinación genotípica rápida, que explicaría el comportamiento epidemiológico de la C. trachomatis y representaría una mejora significativa de la calidad de vida de la paciente.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the main cause of sexually transmitted bacterial infections worldwide. An estimated of 131 million cases occur each year. It is asymptomatic, but ascending infection in women can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Objective: To determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis in open population women who attend the Hospital General de Zona No. 29. Material and methods: Identification of C. trachomatis was carried out by PCR testing of 200 vaginal exudate samples and its genotype was determined. In parallel, a routine microbiological diagnosis was carried out. Results: The prevalence of C. trachomatis was 8.5% (17/200) with a significant concomitance of p = 0.006 with Gardnerella vaginalis (relative risk of 2.871, 95%CI: 1.574- 5.236). Likewise, C. trachomatis was identified in 5 samples as the only etiological agent. Sixteen strains of C. trachomatis belong to genotype F. An identified strain of C. trachomatis presented genetic motifs similar to the Mexican variant repor- ted in 2019. Conclusions: The prevalence of C. trachomatis in the studied population indicates the need to implement diagnostic techniques for this bacterium. The use of PCR allows a rapid genotypic determination that would explain the epidemiological behavior of C. trachomatis and would represent a sig- nificant improvement in the quality of life of the patient.

[Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence in women from the Hospital General de Zona No. 29]. / Prevalencia de Chlamydia trachomatis en mujeres del Hospital General de Zona No. 29.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis is the main cause of sexually transmitted bacterial infections worldwide. An estimated of 131 million cases occur each year. It is asymptomatic, but ascending infection in women can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis in open population women who attend the Hospital General de Zona No. 29. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Identification of C. trachomatis was carried out by PCR testing of 200 vaginal exudate samples and its genotype was determined. In parallel, a routine microbiological diagnosis was carried out. RESULTS: The prevalence of C. trachomatis was 8.5% (17/200) with a significant concomitance of p = 0.006 with Gardnerella vaginalis (relative risk of 2.871, 95%CI: 1.574-5.236). Likewise, C. trachomatis was identified in 5 samples as the only etiological agent. Sixteen strains of C. trachomatis belong to genotype F. An identified strain of C. trachomatis presented genetic motifs similar to the Mexican variant reported in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of C. trachomatis in the studied population indicates the need to implement diagnostic techniques for this bacterium. The use of PCR allows a rapid genotypic determination that would explain the epidemiological behavior of C. trachomatis and would represent a significant improvement in the quality of life of the patient.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la Chlamydia trachomatis es la principal causa de infecciones bacterianas de transmisión sexual a nivel mundial. Se estima que cada año se producen 131 millones de casos. Cursa de manera asintomática, pero la infección ascendente en mujeres puede conducir a la enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica, embarazo ectópico e infertilidad. OBJETIVO: determinar la prevalencia de C. trachomatis en mujeres de población abierta que acuden al Hospital General de Zona No. 29. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: se realizó la identificación de C. trachomatis por pruebas de PCR a 200 muestras de exudado vaginal y se determinó su genotipo. Paralelamente, se realizó el diagnóstico microbiológico de rutina. RESULTADOS: la prevalencia de C. trachomatis fue del 8.5% (17/200) con una concomitancia significativa de p = 0.006 con Gardnerella vaginalis (riesgo relativo de 2.871, IC95%: 1.574-5.236). Asimismo, se identificó C. trachomatis en cinco muestras como el único agente etiológico. Dieciséis cepas de C. trachomatis pertenecieron al genotipo F. Una cepa identificada de C. trachomatis presentó motivos genéticos similares a la variante mexicana reportada en 2019. CONCLUSIONES: la prevalencia de C. trachomatis en la población estudiada nos indica la necesidad de implementar técnicas de diagnóstico para esta bacteria. El uso de la PCR permite realizar una determinación genotípica rápida, que explicaría el comportamiento epidemiológico de la C. trachomatis y representaría una mejora significativa de la calidad de vida de la paciente.

Detección atípica de Chlamydia pneumoniae no humana en una muestra endocervical. Reporte de caso / Atypical detection of non-human Chlamydia pneumoniae in an endocervical sample. Case Report

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: Chlamydia trachomatis es uno de los principales microorganismos de trasmisión sexual asociado de manera importante con infertilidad femenina. La detección de genotipos y nuevas variantes de Chlamydia trachomatis permite conocer su prevalencia, distribución geográfica, identificar la aparición de resistencia antimicrobiana y las asociaciones clínicas o comportamientos sexuales y desarrollar vacunas. Este caso clínico es el primer informe de infección endocervical por una cepa diferente a C trachomatis. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 25 años, con diagnóstico de infertilidad primaria de 2 años de evolución por factor endocrino-ovárico (sobrepeso e hipotiroidismo subclínico) y por factor masculino de hipospermia y teratozoospermia. El cultivo microbiológico endocervical detectó la infección por Ureaplasma spp y Chlamydia spp. La identificación de la cepa de Chlamydia mediante secuenciación del gen 16S del ARNr informó que era Chlamydia pneumoniae. La existencia de un plásmido en esta cepa de C pneumoniae confirmó que la infección endocervical fue por una cepa de Chlamydia pneumoniae no humana. CONCLUSIÓN: Este caso clínico sugiere la posibilidad de que una cepa de C pneumoniae no humana sea capaz de trasmitirse sexualmente a los humanos, estar circulando en la población mexicana y causar infertilidad, aunque aún se desconocen el origen y la dirección de la trasmisión.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the leading sexually transmitted microorganisms that is significantly associated with the development of female infertility. The detection of genotypes and new variants ofChlamydia trachomatisallows us to know their prevalence and geographic distribution, identify the appearance of antimicrobial resistance, clinical associations, or sexual behaviors, and develop vaccines. This clinical case reports for the first time endocervical infection by a strain other thanC. trachomatis. CLINICAL CASE: A 25-year-old woman with primary infertility of 2 years of evolution due to endocrine-ovarian factor (overweight and subclinical hypothyroidism) and male factor characterized by hypospermia and teratozoospermia. Endocervical microbiological culture detected infection byUreaplasma urealyticumandChlamydiaspp. Identification of theChlamydiastrain by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene reported that it wasChlamydia pneumoniae. The presence of plasmid in this strain ofC. pneumoniaeconfirmed that the endocervical infection was by a non-humanChlamydia pneumoniaestrain. CONCLUSION: This clinical case suggests that a non-human strain ofC. pneumoniaecan be sexually transmitted to humans, circulating in the Mexican population, and causing infertility, although the origin and direction of transmission are still unknown.

When to perform the screening for Chlamydia trachomatis during pregnancy? / ¿Cuándo realizar la detección de Chlamydia trachomatis durante la gestación?

In this letter to the editor, we discuss the detection and the association between abortion and Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Further, we comment on the difficulty in selecting the appropriate gestation trimester for the diagnosis of infection by this pathogen.

En esta carta al editor se discuten la detección y la asociación entre el aborto y la infección por Chlamydia trachomatis. Además, se comenta la dificultad de seleccionar el trimestre de gestación apropiado para el diagnóstico de infección por este patógeno.

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Diagnosed by Polymerase Chain Reaction in Female Sex Workers in a Northern Mexican City.

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and female sex work, and the association between sociodemographic, obstetric, and behavioral characteristics of female sex workers and C. trachomatis infection. METHODS: Through a case-control study design, we studied 201 female sex workers and 201 age-matched women without sex work in Durango City, Mexico. C. trachomatis DNA was detected in cervical swab samples using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: C. trachomatis DNA was detected in 32 (15.9%) of the 201 cases and in 6 (3.0%) of the 201 controls (odds ratio [OR] = 6.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5-15.0; P < 0.001). The frequency of infection with C. trachomatis in female sex workers did not vary (P > 0.05) regardless of the history of pregnancies, deliveries, cesarean sections, or miscarriages. Regression analysis of the behavioral characteristics showed that infection with C. trachomatis was associated only with consumption of alcohol (OR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.0-5.71; P = 0.04). Conclusions: We conclude that C. trachomatis infection is associated with female sex work in Durango City, Mexico. This is the first age-matched case-control study on the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection in female sex workers in Mexico using detection of C. trachomatis DNA in cervical samples.

Human Papillomavirus Infection in Female Sex Workers: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: To determine the association of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and the occupation of female sex worker; and the correlation of infection with HPV with sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics of female sex workers. METHODS: We performed a case-control study of 217 female sex workers and 354 women without sex work in Durango City, Mexico. We determined the prevalence of infection with HPV in cervical samples of women using polymerase chain reaction, and HPV genotypes were determined using line probe assay. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the association between the characteristics of women and infection. RESULTS: Twelve (5.5%) of the 217 sex workers, and 10 (2.8%) of the 354 control women were positive for HPV DNA (age-adjusted OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 0.62 - 3.68; P = 0.36). Six (50.0%) of the 12 HPV DNA positive sex workers had infections with high-risk genotypes (16, 31, 33, 35, 51, 58). Seven (70%) of the 10 HPV DNA positive control women had infections with high-risk genotypes (16, 18, 56, 58, and 66). The frequency of high risk genotypes in the control women was equal with that found in the female sex workers (P = 0.41). Logistic regression analysis showed that the variable alcohol consumption was associated with HPV infection (OR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.0 - 16.0; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: No association between HPV infection and female sex work was found in our setting. High risk HPV genotypes were prevalent among the women studied. Results can be used for the design of preventive measures against HPV infection.

Eosinophilia in Preterm Born Infants Infected with Chlamydia trachomatis.

A higher than 350 eosinophils/mm(3) is strongly associated with Chlamydia trachomatis in term born babies coursing with respiratory distress. However, in preterm newborns infected with this pathogen, the levels of eosinophils are unknown. Forty newborn infants with clinical data of respiratory problems and/or sepsis were analyzed. DNA of leukocytes from peripheral blood was used to identify C. trachomatis. Detection of chlamydial infection was performed by amplifying the ompA gene by an in-house PCR, and eosinophil levels were evaluated in an XT-2000-hematology analyzer. Eighteen infants showed chlamydial infection and 14 of them showed pneumonia (RR = 2.6; CI95% 1.03-6.5; p =.027). Their eosinophil levels were 719 ± 614 cells/mm(3). A significant association between eosinophilia ≥1250 cells/mm(3) and gestational age of less than 29 weeks (RR = 5.8; 1.35; CI95% [1.4-24.5], p <.008) was observed. The preterm infants with chlamydial infection did not show higher eosinophil levels than uninfected infants.

Mycoplasma hominis attaches to and locates intracellularly in human spermatozoa.

BACKGROUND: The study of sperm-mycoplasma interaction has been focused on the effects of infection on sperm quality, but few studies have reported the direct interaction of this bacterium with spermatozoa. METHODS: Selected populations of viable, motile and infection-free human spermatozoa from three healthy men were incubated with 15-480 multiplicity of infection (MOI) units of DiIC18-labelled Mycoplasma hominis. Cells were analyzed by means of confocal microscopy and by the eosin-Y dye exclusion test between 10 min and 24 h post-infection. RESULTS: As early as 10 min post-infection, clusters of M. hominis were seen attached to the sperm head, midpiece or tail. Mycoplasma showed an approximately 2.5-4.5-fold higher interaction with sperm head or tail than with midpiece. Sequential sectioning of infected spermatozoa revealed the intracellular location of M. hominis within cytosolic spaces of head and midpiece regions. A minor proportion of infected spermatozoa showed bent or coiled tails, and/or midpiece thickening. Sperm viability was not altered by M. hominis infection. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide specific and conclusive evidence of M. hominis attachment and invasiveness towards human sperm cells, which seems not to affect their viability, suggesting that a short-term M. hominis interaction with spermatozoa results in non-apparent or subtle damage, but might have implications for long-term male or couple's fertility.