ISOLATION OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS FROM THE LOWER DIGESTIVE-TRACT

Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from ten of 188 biopsies (5.3%) obt ained from different parts of the lower digestive tract. Patients (mea n age 37.0 years) presented with ulcerative proctitis, Crohn's disease , mild colitis or ulcerative colitis. Seven rectal biopsies, two biops ies from the sigmoid flexure and one caecal biopsy were positive for c hlamydial isolation whereas all biopsies taken from the colon ascenden s, transversum or descend ns and from the terminal ileum were negative . We conclude that isolation of C. trachomatis is most effective from rectal and sigmoidal biopsies and is a rare event from other sites of the lower digestive tract.