THE IN-SITU POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTION FOR DETECTION OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS

The in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique that has im portant applications in the diagnosis of viral and bacterial diseases. This study investigated an in situ PCR assay established to detect th e presence of Chlamydia trachomatis in endocervical swabs. In addition , histological sections of endocervical squamous cell carcinoma were a nalyzed because previous studies had revealed a significant associatio n with C. trachomatis. A total of 20 cervical neoplasms (squamous cell carcinoma in situ; n = 10; invasive squamous cell carcinoma; n = 10) and endocervical smears taken from five patients with and without infl ammatory changes were analyzed by conventional PCR. Chlamydial DNA was found in 10 histological samples (six carcinomas in situ, four invasi ve carcinomas) and in one endocervical swab from a patient with known C. trachomatis infection. Positive specimens were used for establishin g an in situ PCR assay (IS-PCR). After IS-PCR, these samples showed de nse cytoplasmic staining of endocervical cells (smears) and non-neopla stic epithelial cells (cervical neoplasms). The other tumor samples an d smears did not demonstrate positive PCR reaction. The results indica te that in situ PCR is an effective technique for localizing C. tracho matis in target cells because IS-PCR detection of chlamydial DNA corre lated with histological and cytological features.