Association of genital infection with specific Chlamydia trachomatis serovars and race

J Infect Dis. 1992 Dec;166(6):1445-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/166.6.1445.

Abstract

Black race is an important risk marker for Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection. To define whether C. trachomatis serovars differ by ethnic distribution, a panel of monoclonal antibodies was used to serotype 934 urethral and 581 cervical isolates from patients attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic over 2 years. The overall serovar distribution in cervical and urethral infections was comparable, with B class serovars predominating. Significantly higher inclusion counts were observed both in younger women and in nonblacks regardless of serovar. Serovar D was less frequent among blacks at the urethral site (P = .001), while serovar Ia was more frequent in blacks at both sites (urethral, P < .001; cervical, P = .02). These associations remained significant after adjusting for age and number of inclusion-forming units by multivariate analysis. Thus, specific serovars may be associated with particular racial groups; either behavioral or biologic factors could explain these findings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Black or African American
  • Chlamydia Infections / ethnology
  • Chlamydia Infections / microbiology*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / classification*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Serotyping
  • Urethritis / ethnology
  • Urethritis / microbiology*
  • Uterine Cervicitis / ethnology
  • Uterine Cervicitis / microbiology*
  • White People