IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION AND DIRECT FLUORESCENCE ANTIBODIES FOR THE DETECTION OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS IN SYNOVIAL TISSUE FROM PATIENTS WITH REACTIVE ARTHRITIS

Background-Chlamydia trachomatis is associated with Reiter's syndrome and reactive arthritis but the form in which the organism survives in synovial cells is unclear. Aim-To compare in situ hybridisation with d irect fluorescence in the detection of inapparent chlamydial infection in synovial tissue. Methods-Synovial tissue from four patients with r eactive arthritis patients was examined using biotin labelled probes f or chlamydial DNA and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labelled monoc lonal antibodies against the major outer membrane protein. Results-In two of the four patients, evidence of chlamydial infections was detect ed by in situ hybridisation in parallel sections but not with FITC lab elled monoclonal antibodies. Conclusions-Detection of chlamydial DNA b y in situ DNA hybridisation may be a better way to identify chlamydial infection in synovial tissue than phenotype targeting with FITC conju gated antibodies, which is used as a standard procedure for screening clinical specimens for chlamydia.