ISOLATION OF CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE FROM A CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY SPECIMEN

Chlamydia pneumoniae has been associated with atherosclerotic cardiova scular disease by both seroepidemiologic studies and direct detection of the organism in atherosclerotic plaque by electron microscopy (EM), immunocytochemistry (ICC), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Despi te the frequent detection of the organism in atheromatous cardiovascul ar specimens by these methods, only 1 cardiovascular isolate of C. pne umoniae, obtained from a coronary artery, has been previously reported . This study reports the isolation of C. pneumoniae from a prospective ly obtained carotid endarterectomy specimen. The organism appears to b e identical to other C. pneumoniae isolates by EM morphology, reactivi ty to species-specific monoclonal antibodies, and Southern hybridizati on analysis of chromosomal digests using C. pneumoniae-specific DNA pr obes. C. pneumoniae was detected by PCR or ICC (or both) in 11 (69%) o f 16 other endarterectomy specimens tested by both of these methods. T hese results provide further evidence for an association of C. pneumon iae and atherosclerosis by confirming the presence of viable bacteria within atherosclerotic plaque.