Seropositivity of Chlamydophila pneumoniae immunoglobulin G antibody of HIV/AIDS patients in Abuja,Nigeria

Objective:To detect IgG antibody to Chlamydophila pneumoniae(CP) in sera of HIV/AIDS patients and provide rationale for inclusion of routine screening for anti-CP antibodies and anti-chlamydial agents in the Nigerian National H1V/AIDS Management Plan.Methods:Serum samples from 34 consenting HIV/AIDS patients attended a Government-approved Antiretroviral Treatment Facility in Abuja were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-CP IgG antibody using ImmunoComb? Chlamydia Bivalent IgG Test kit(Orgenics,Israel).Results: Anti-CP IgG antibody was detected in 20(58.8%) of 34 patients tested.The detection rale was higher among the males(8/13:61.5%) than the females(12/21:57.1%).Patients of the age group 16-30 years had the highest(7/10:70%) detection of anti-CP IgG antibody.Conclusions:The result of the present study suggests the presence of anti-CP antibodies in sera of the HIV/AIDS patients,and reinforces the need for routine screening for anti-CP antibodies as a necessary intervention to reduce the burden of Chlamydophila pneumoniae(C.pneumoniae) infections and to reduce HIV-positive morbidity in Nigeria.The outcome of this study also provides justification for the possible inclusion of anti-chlamydial agents in the National HIV/AIDS Management Plan to provide prophylaxis against or treat active C.pneumoniae infections.