<i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> Infecion Among Apparently Healthy Students of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatisinfection is one of the sexually transmitted diseases (STD) occurring asymptomatically and frequently causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Randomized control screening was conducted using immunochromatographic (ICG) tests for the detection of chlamydial antigen in extracts from urine and endo-cervical swab (ECS) samples from 530 University students. Positive samples were further subjected to Giemsa staining technique and microscopy for elementary bodies. Of the 530 students screened, a total of 80 (15.1%) males and 40 (7.5%) females were found positive by the immunochromatographic (ICG) method, but no inclusion bodies were found in any of the positive samples further examined by the Giemsa's staining method. ICG tests were found to be more sensitive for detecting chlamydial infection in ECS samples than the matching urine samples (P>0.05). Routine screening and appropriate treatment, especially of sexually-active youths is imperative if control measures are to be effective. Immunochromatographic screening method for chlamydial infection can give an on-the-spot diagnosis; hence the prevalence of infection and an estimate of the cost of its management.

Keywords: Prevalence, Chlamydia trachomatis, asymptomatic infection

Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences Vol. 14 (2) 2005: pp. 62-67