Serum IgG and IgA antibodies specific for Chlamydia trachomatis in salpingitis patients as determined by the immunoperoxidase assay

Abstract

The feasibility of applying elevated Chlamydia trachomatis specific IgG antibody and serum IgA antibodies as a non-invasive screening test for C. trachomatis associated salpingitis was analysed in 54 salpingitis patients and 294 apparently healthy women by the single antigen (L2) immunoperoxidase assay (IPA). The prevalence rate of C. trachomatis IgG antibody (titre greater than or equal to 64) was significantly higher in the salpingitis patients in comparison to control (67% versus 23%). The prevalence rate of elevated C. trachomatis IgG titres (greater than or equal to 128, greater than or equal to 256 and greater than or equal to 512) was significantly higher in the salpingitis patients as compared to the controls. For example, at an IgG titre of greater than or equal to 128 the prevalence rate was 57% in the salpingitis patients and 8% in the healthy controls (p less than 0.0001). The prevalence of C. trachomatis IgA antibodies (titre greater than or equal to 16) was significantly higher in salpingitis patients in comparison to controls (37% versus 4%). The prevalence of elevated IgA titres (greater than or equal to 32 and greater than or equal to 64) was found to be significantly higher in salpingitis patients as compared to controls. All the IgG seropositive salpingitis patients were also found to have C. trachomatis IgG antibodies. It appears that testing for IgG antibodies at a serum dilution of 1:128, and for IgA antibodies at a dilution of 1:16 by the IPA test comprises the best combination for the differentiation between the salpingitis patients and apparently healthy controls, and it is suggested that this be used as a marker of active C. trachomatis infection.

Incidence of Antibodies Against Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1, Hepatitis B Virus, Hemorrhagic Fever With Renal Syndrome Virus and Chlamydia in Tonga and Western Samoa

“…Almost half of the Samoan sera had positive IgG antibody to both C. trachomatis and C. psittaci. About 10% of the sera showed IgA antibody, which means active infection (19). In our experiments, quantitations of IgA and IgG antibodies were not done for either C. trachomatis or C. psittaci, but our data indicate a high incidence of chlamydial infection in the South Pacific Islands.…”

Laboratory diagnosis of human chlamydial infections

“…Some studies have suggested that the diagnostic value of whole inclusion serotesting may be enhanced if serum IgA antibody is assayed (26,136). However, longitudinal studies showing the appearance and subsequent disappearance of specific antichlamydial IgA (correlated with acute chlamydial infection) will be necessary to prove this hypothesis.…”

Serum-Specific Antibodies forChlamydiatrachomatisin Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes

“…These infections may persist for long periods, unless appropriate antibiotic therapy is administered [22], Several studies have suggested that elevated titers of IgA and IgG antichlamydial antibodies may be markers of active chlamydial infection. IgG and IgA antibodies, at serum dilutions of >1:128 and >1:16, respectively, appear to indicate individuals with chlamydial infections [8,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Since the half-life of IgA is very short, it is detectable for only a short period following removal of the antigen [14,15,23]; its pres ence in serum suggests an ongoing or very recent infec tion [24], Thus, by measuring IgG and IgA specific anti bodies, it was hoped that this method would prove to be more accurate and specific for the identification of active or persistent chlamydial infection.…”

“…Although some studies have found an association between cervical C. trachomatis and an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome [7], others have questioned such an association [8][9][10]. Ele vated titers of IgA and IgG antichlamydial antibodies have been suggested as markers of active chlamydial infection [8,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19],…”