An Application of Fluorescein-Conjugated Monoclonal Antibodies to the Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Children

Abstract

A method for rapid indentification of Chlamydia trachomatis ( C. trachomatis) from clinical specimens using fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibodies was evaluated. Attempts to isolate C. trachomatis by McCoy cell cultures were simultaneously performed. C. trachomatis was isolated from 8 of 62 newborns with neonatal conjunctivitis in tissue culture as compared with 12 positives using monoclonal antibodies. C. trachomatis was isolated from 2 of 7 infants with pneumonia in tissue cultures as compared with 3 positives using monoclonal antibodies. In order to identify either elementary bodies (EB) or reticulate bodies (RB) in clinical specimens, EB and RB of C. trachomatis L2/434 strain were isolated, purified and reacted with monoclonal antibodies. Majority of fluorescence observed in the clinical specimens was considered to be EB. Chlamydia trachomatis ; monoclonal antibodies ; inclusion conjunctivitis ; elementary bodies ; reticulate bodies. © 1985, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved.