Immunohistochemical Detection of Chlamydial Antigens in Association with Cystitis

Abstract

To investigate the etiologic role of Chlamydia trachomatis in cystitis, the authors used the immunoperoxidase technique with a monoclonal antibody against Chlamydia and examined paraffin sections from 36 cases of histologically proven cystitis. The average patients' age was 60 (range, 2-85) years. Biopsies were taken for follow-up of treated bladder carcinoma (19), hematuria (8), and other nonneoplastic conditions (9). Chlamydial antigens were detected by immunohistochemistry in 12 (33%) of these 36 cases. Staining for Chlamydia occurred in the upper layers of the transitional epithelium and involved long stretches of epithelium. Underlying inflammation was usually chronic but did not have specific distinguishing features. Eight of the Chlamydia-positive biopsies were taken for follow-up of treated carcinoma, two were for hematuria, one for neurogenic bladder, and one for evaluation of sterile pyuria. Eleven (92%) of these 12 positive cases had a history of recent urologic instrumentation, in contrast to only 11 (46%) of 24 negative cases (P less than 0.02). There was no significant difference in the age or sex distribution between the two groups. The authors conclude that Chlamydia trachomatis can ascend the urethra and infect the bladder urothelium. Urologic instrumentation enhances the ability of Chlamydia to reach the bladder. Chlamydia trachomatis may play an etiologic role in cystitis.

Chlamydiaand Male Lower Urinary Tract Diseases

“…In a follow-up study, they found that 6 of 55 men with abacterial prostatitis, including 31 believed to have chlamydial prostatitis, met strict criteria for positive diagnosis for chlamydial prostatitis based on identification of the organisms by culturing or immunofluorescence [22]. Chlamydia has also been isolated in prostate tissue specimens [23-25]. However, further evaluation of the chlamydial etiology of prostatitis is required to make any definitive statement on the association between isolation of this organism and prostatitis.…”

Immunohistology of Infectious Diseases

“…2.15). 138,139 Immunohistochemistry is useful in identifying Haemophilus influenzae, [140][141][142] Chlamydia species, [143][144][145] Legionella pneumophila and L. dumoffii, [146][147][148] Listeria monocytogenes, [149][150][151] Salmonella, 152,153 mycobacteria, [154][155][156][157][158][159] rickettsial infections other than Rocky Mountain spotted fever such as boutonneuse fever, typhus fever, 160 rickettsialpox, 161,162 African tick bite fever, 125 scrub typhus, 163 and spirochetes in patients with syphilis. In addition, cultures are rarely positive before 2-4 weeks of incubation.…”

Plasma Antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis, Human Papillomavirus, and Human Herpesvirus Type 8 in Relation to Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Study

“…These include Chlamydia trachomatis, human papillomavirus (HPV), and human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) infections. C. trachomatis is a putative, candidate infection because it is intracellular and is often asymptomatic in men, which may allow it to persist in the male genitourinary tract and possibly ascend to the prostate, where it has been observed to infect prostate epithelial cells and elicit an intraprostatic inflammatory immune response (4)(5)(6). HPV and HHV-8 infections are putative candidates because they have both been associated with other cancers (cervical, vulval, anal, and penile carcinomas and Kaposi's sarcoma; refs.…”