Posters

Chlamydia genotypes associated with inclusion conjunctivitis

Poster Details

First Author: E. Guinto Arcos MEXICO

Co Author(s):    H. Mejia Lopez   A. Ramirez Miranda                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Identify the predominant genotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis ssociated with inclusion conjunctivitis

Setting:

At Conde de Valenciana, Ophthalmology Center in Mexico City

Methods:

We evaluated 180 conjunctival samples from patients with clinical diagnosis of chronic or acute conjunctivitis. Molecular diagnosis was performed by real time-PCR for identification of Chlamydia sp. by amplification of a segment of gene 16S, common in Chlamydia species. Genotype identification was made by automated sequencing of ompA gene using the Big Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Ready kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). The obtained sequences were compared with those previously reported in the GenBank.

Results:

The partial sequences of ompA gene were analyzed manually and genotypes were compared with the NCBI database sequences. Serovars D, E, F and G were identified. The most prevalent was F, followed by E. Chlamydia was present in 25% of the patients with diagnosis of conjunctivitis.

Conclusions:

The presence of Chlamydia in patients with conjunctivitis has been underestimated for a long time. The results show not only a frequency of the presence of this microrganism higher than expected, but also significant genotype diversity of Chlamydia associated with inclusion conjunctivitis and probably of the urogenital disease. It is critical to emphasize that the findings in this small sample allow inferring the clinical and epidemiological significance in a given population.Very few has been reported of the specific genotypes of Chlamydia associated with this ocular manifestation.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE