DETECTION BY MULTIPLEX POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION AND TYPING OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS ISOLATES

The multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied for the dete ction of the Chlamydia trachomatis chromosome and plasmid. The multipl ex PCR demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.8 fg of chlamydial DNA, corresp onding to the detection of about 5 copies of the plasmid. Analysis of 195 genital specimens collected randomly from a female population, sho wed that the multiplex PCR is more sensitive and rapid than culturing for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis. Moreover, sequencing of the II va riable domain of the omp1 gene, directly from DNA of the clinical spec imens, appears to be a simple and rapid method for determining serovar isolates.