Association of Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies with genital contact disease in women in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

The involvement of Chlamydia trachomatis in genital contact disease was assessed by measuring anti-chlamydial antibodies in the serum of 780 women aged 16-40 years using the indirect haemagglutination test. These were compared to a control population consisting of 250 consenting housewives visiting General Practice Clinic (GPC) for other medical reasons. Test results showed an overall prevalence of 47% for indirect haemagglutination (IHA) chlamydial antibodies in women with genital contact disease. The average IHA titre was 143. The age group 21-25 years recorded the highest prevalence of 54%, with 55% giving a titre ≤ 64. The control population gave a prevalence of 12% with no sample recording a titre ≤ 64. These findings may indicate a need to routinely conduct investigations for chlamydial infection in all cases of genital contact disease in our environment.