Prevalence of antichlamydial antibody in London blood donors

Abstract

The prevalence of type-specific antichlamydial antibody in a population of blood donors in London was studied using a microimmunofluorescence test. Twenty-six (177o) of 150 women and 38 (2607!o) of 150 men had antichlamydial antibody (IgG at ≥1/16 or IgM ≥1/8 or both). Of these, five (3%) women and one (0 75%) man had this antibody directed against Chiamydia trachomatis serotypes D-K, responsible for genital infections, and one man had antibody to Chlamydiapsittaci agents. The remaining 57 men and women had antibody against an atypical chlamydial isolate designated Chlamydia IOL-207, which is iodine-negative and serologically distinct from both C trachomatis and Cpsittaci. The nature and location of infection by this agent are obscure. The results of this study suggest that the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection with C trachomatis serotypes D-K in a normal adult population in London is very low.