Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis pooled serotypes BDE and FGK in children with chronic follicular conjunctivitis

Purpose: To evaluate type-specific antichlamydial antibody IgG in children with chronic follicular conjunctivitis. Methods: A total of 90 serum samples from juvenile patients with chronic fo llicular conjunctivitis were collected in the Southeastern Anatolian region of Turkey where trachoma is still endemic. These samples were investigated regarding Chlamydia trachomatis pooled serotype-specific IgG by using the micro-immunofluorescence test. A titer of 1132 or higher was considered pos itive. Results: Specific IgG seropositivity to Chlamydia trachomatis titer was fou nd in 33 (36.1%) of the 90 subjects. A higher titer was observed frequently in the serotypes pooled in BDE (21 subjects), CHIJ (10 subjects), and FGK (2 subjects), respectively. Conclusions: The presence of antichlamydial antibodies in blood should alwa ys be interpreted in accordance with the history of the patient, the clinic al picture, and the course of the disease. In the diagnosis of Chlamydia tr achomatis infections in a patient with chronic follicular conjunctivitis, n ot only genus-specific antibodies but also the presence of the subspeciespe cific antibodies should be investigated. (C) 2000 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.