CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS SEROVARS IN 435 UROGENITAL SPECIMENS TYPED BY RESTRICTION-ENDONUCLEASE ANALYSIS OF AMPLIFIED DNA

Chlamydia trachomatis serovar was determined by analysis of restrictio n fragment length polymorphism in the gene encoding the major outer me mbrane protein (MOMP) from 435 urogenital specimens. Of the specimens, 254 grew <25 inclusions and 14 were negative in culture. Although pre vious studies defined serovar by epitopes or sequences representing on ly the four variable domains in MOMP, restriction endonuclease sites c haracteristic for each serovar not only within but also outside these variable domains were cataloged in this study. Novel serovars that gre w poorly or not at all in vitro were not observed, and all samples pro ved similar or identical to one of the 15 known serovars. There was no significant difference in proportions of serovars between men and wom en. In women, F serovars were more frequently observed in infections w ith few inclusions in culture, whereas B group serovars predominated w hen many inclusions were observed.