ANTIBODIES TO CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE IN HEALTHY-CHILDREN FROM BARI, SOUTH ITALY

Specific IgG and IgM antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae were evaluated by microimmunofluorescence test in a group of healthy subjects (age 0 -18 years). Antibody titers (IgG) greater than or equal to 1:16 were f ound in 9.7% of the age group 0-1 years, in 5.3% of the group of 2-3 y ears and rose to 19% in children of the group 4-6 years. The seropreva lence was 11% and 17.1% in the group 7-12 years and 13-15 years, respe ctively. In the last group of 16-18 years the seroprevalence was 9.1%. The overall seroprevalence was 11.8% and C. pneumoniae infection is a cquired before school age. In addition, in our pediatric patients it s eems that C. pneumoniae does not play an important pathogenic role, be ing responsible for only 1.6% of the acute lower respiratory infection s. The factors that may account for these findings are discussed.