DEMONSTRATION OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS IN INGUINAL LYMPHADENITIS OF LYMPHOGRANULOMA-VENEREUM - A LIGHT-MICROSCOPY, ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY AND POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION STUDY

Intravacuolar organisms in vacuolated macrophages were associated with areas of necrosis and suppuration in 12 patients with suppurative ing uinal lymphadenitis. The intravacuolar organisms measured 0.2 to 2.0 m u m in diameter, stained Gram negative with the Brown-Hopp's tissue Gr am stain, faintly blue with hematoxylin and eosin stain, and black wit h the Warthin-Starry silver impregnation stain. The organisms lined va cuolar membranes and/or clumped in centers of vacuoles. Electron micro scopy revealed elementary and reticulate bodies and intermediate forms characteristic of the genus Chlamydia, Cultures of three lymph nodes in McCoy cells grew Chlamydia trachomatis, lymphogranuloma venereum (L GV) serovars. Polymerase chain reaction using primers for chlamydial 1 6S ribosomal DNA confirmed the organisms as Chlamydia in lymph nodes f rom nine patients, Recognition of chlamydial organisms by light micros copy in tissue sections of lymph nodes allows a definitive diagnosis o f lymphogranuloma venereum.