INTRAAMNIOTIC CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS INFECTION

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most prevalent genital pathogens i n pregnant women. Ascending, transcervical infection may reach fetal m embranes creating chorioamnionitis or amniotic fluid infection, The ai m of this study was to examine amniotic fluids obtained during cesarea n section for the presence of chlamydial IgM- and IgG-specific antibod ies, and for the presence of C. trachomatis antigen, Five of 52 (9.6%) amniotic fluid samples were seropositive for C. trachomatis IgM antib ody, while only 1 was IgG antibody seropositive, Two of 52 (3.8%) amni otic fluid samples had C. trachomatis antigen in the epithelial cells of the amnion, In conclusion, our data indicate that there is a high r ate of transmission of C. trachomatis from mother to infant and that t he pathogen can be identified in the amniotic fluid.