Detection of chlamydia antigen in cervical specimens from antenatal clinic attendees in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Four hundred consenting antenatal clinic attendees were serologically screened for evidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Infection with this organism is underreported in many countries including Nigeria. In the antenatal clinic setting in most developing countries, antigen detection has found widespread application in diagnosis due to lesser demands of cost, expertise, and time required to obtain results. In this study, chlamydia antigens were serologically detected using an immunochromatographic method (Hexagon Chlamydia Rapid Test Kit manufactured and described by Human Gesellschaft fur Biochemica und Diagnostcal MbH-Germany). Overall, 40 (13.3%) of the 300 women screened had chlamydia antigens in their endocervical specimens while 100 women (control subjects) were negative for chlamydial antigens. There seems to be an association between chlamydial infection and vaginal discharge, abortion and infertility. We highly recommend the necessity to include chlamydia screening tests in antenatal health care in Nigeria to prevent unpleasant sequelae.


Keywords: chlamydial antigens, endocervical specimen, antenatal women, Benin City, Nigeria


African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 6 (3) 2005: 208-211