Chlamydial infection in women with cervical dysplasia

Abstract

The prevalence of antibodies to chlamydiae, particularly to TRIC (trachoma-inclusion conjunctivitis) agents, was studied in women with cervical dysplasia and in women attending selected clinics (obstetrics, cancer-screening, and gynecology). In addition, attempts were made to isolate TRIC agents and herpesviruses from the cervices of these women. TRIC agent recovery rates 4.1 per cent for women with dysplasia, 5.4 per cent for pregnant women, 7.8 per cent in the women's clinic, and 0.8 per cent in the cancer-screening clinic. Herpesvirus recovery rates were lower, on the order of 1 per cent or less in each clinic. Complement-fixing antibodies to chlamydial group antigen were detected in 21.5 per cent of women with dysplasia. With a more sensitive fluorescent antibody method, 77.6 per cent of the women with dysplasia or cervical cancer were shown to have antibodies to chlamydiae. In general, antichlamydial antibodies were less prevalent in the other clinic populations. The results of this study indicate that women with cervical dysplasia or cancer may have a high prevalence of antibodies to sexually transmitted agents other than herpesvirus type 2.