CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS SEROVARS AND THE CLINICAL PICTURE OF THE UROGENITAL INFECTIONS

A total of 56 Chlamydia trachomatis strains isolated from female and male patients in the STD outpatient clinic of the Department of Dermatology, University of Heidelberg, were serotyped by means of monoclonal antibodies in an indirect immunofluorescence test. The most prevalent serovar was serovar E, with 35.7%, followed by serovar D, with 28.6%, and serovar F, with 26.8%. No double or multiple infections with different C. trachomatis serovars were found. The first epidemiological study of C. trachomatis serovars in Germany shows that the distribution of distinct serovars is not essentially different from that found in other western countries. The distribution of serovars was similar in women and men. There was no demonstrable correlation between asymptomatic or symptomatic courses of the infections with distinct serovars. In addition, the presence of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in urethritis or cervicitis was not associated with distinct serovars. These results indicate that the antigens used as a criterion in the classification of C. trachomatis are not correlated with the biological behaviour of this infections agent.