Frequency and genotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis in patients attending the obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Jalisco, Mexico and correlation with sociodemographic, behavioral, and biological factors.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis is the causative agent of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and genotypes of C. trachomatis in patients attending an obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Jalisco, Mexico and correlates them with sociodemographic, behavioral, and biological factors. METHODS: C. trachomatis detection was performed in endocervical samples from 662 patients by direct fluorescence assay (DFA) and two PCR assays that amplified the phospholipase D endonuclease superfamily protein (PLDESP) and OmpA genes. Positive samples were genotyped using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and biological data were collected. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 31 (range, 14-78) years. C. trachomatis positivity was detected by DFA in 16.7% (n = 111), PLDESP gene amplification in 14.2% (n = 94), and OmpA gene amplification in 14.5% (n = 96) of the population. Eight C. trachomatis genotypes were detected: E (39.6%), F (29.2%), D (15.6%), K (6.3%), L2 (3.1%), G, J, and I (2.1% each). C. trachomatis infection was associated with age, marital status, pregnancy, and hormonal contraceptive use (all p = 0.01); intrauterine device use and previous premature birth (both p = 0.03); and infection during pregnancy, previous ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and green vaginal discharge (all p = 0.04). C. trachomatis genotype K was more likely to be detected in women histories of ≥2 sexual partners, genotype F was more likely in pregnant women, genotype L2 was more likely in women with PID, genotype D was more likely in women who had had infection during previous pregnancies, and genotype E was more likely in those with previous ectopic pregnancies and green vaginal discharge (all p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of C. trachomatis in our population was higher than previously reported worldwide, but within the range reported for Mexico. Genotype E was detected most frequently in the study population. Infection by C. trachomatis and C. trachomatis genotypes K, F, D, and E was strongly associated with multiple sociodemographic, behavioral, and biological factors. C. trachomatis genotype L2 was detected in women with PID.

Chlamydia trachomatis in the gingival sulcus and pharynx in patients of Northeast Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The oral microenvironment provides the conditions for the establishment of microorganisms not usually considered residents of the normal oral microbiota. Sexually transmitted microorganisms such as Chlamydia trachomatis can adhere to any mucosal surface and ascend to reach appropriate locations to survive and develop symptomatic infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine the presence of C. trachomatis, direct immunofluorescence of this microorganism was carried out in 76 randomly selected patients attending a periodontal clinic during a period of 1 year. Samples from the gingival sulcus and the pharynx were collected for detection of C. trachomatis. Patients who attended the periodontal clinic were divided into two groups: those without periodontitis and those with periodontitis. For the purpose of performing other statistical analyses, all patients were also divided by gender and age. RESULTS: From the total of 76 patients, in the group without periodontitis, 61% were positive for C. trachomatis in the gingival sulcus and 63.4% in the pharynx; in the periodontitis group, 45.7% were positive in the sulcus and 40% in the pharynx. When we compared patients by gender or age, no statistical difference was found. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of C. trachomatis in this group was 53.9% in the gingival sulcus and pharynx of the studied patients.

Multinucleation of spermatozoa and spermatids in infertile men chronically exposed to carbofuran.

OBJECTIVE: To report the findings encountered in semen samples coming from two infertile men chronically exposed to carbofuran. METHODS: Semen samples were collected and analyzed as recommended by the World Health Organization. A morphological analysis was carried out by light microscopy. RESULTS: Seminal analysis revealed in the first case a total concentration of 42 million spermatozoa/mL with 17% motility and 20% normal shape. The second patient presented a total concentration of 5 million spermatozoa/mL with 6% motility and 2% normal shape. The patients presented a similar percentage of binucleated spermatozoa (28 and 26%) and of multinucleated spermatids (10 and 6%). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first time that alterations in semen samples of men exposed to carbofuran are reported. More research in this area is needed to make conclusions on the subject.

Ultrastructural findings in semen samples of infertile men infected with Chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasmas.

The aim of this study was to describe the ultrastructural features observed in semen samples of men with infertility and subfertility of unknown cause infected with Chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasmas. The findings observed by ultrastructure included destruction or persistence of bacteria in leukocytes, phagocytosis of spermatozoa by leukocytes, and structural damage of spermatozoa.