Identification

The Chlamydia trachomatis infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infections (STIs), especially in young women, to which most of the time the infection is asymptomatic. Up to 70% of sexually active women with chlamidiană infection are asymptomatic. Repeated infections with Chlamydia may cause sterility atȃt in female cȃt and male.

The female infection in the genital area is manifested as a cervical infection (in the cervix = Cervix).

Clinical manifestations

Clinical manifestations in women include:

• Purulent leakage in small or moderate quantities,
• Burning sensation at urination,
• Pruritus (itching) urethral
• Sterility.

The untreated infection leads to pelvic inflammatory disease, which is an important cause of infertility, chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy.

To the pregnant woman:

• During pregnancy the chlamydia infection may cause abortion, premature rupture of membranes and premature birth.
• In genitally infected pregnant women with Chlamydia the infection may be transmitted to the newborn during childbirth, causing conjunctivitis or pneumonia.

Diagnosis

Tests for the identification of Chlamydia infection should be considered in people who have had partners with this infection, whether they have suggestive symptoms or are asymptomatic. The diagnosis of chlamydia infection has undergone considerable changes in recent years as a result of the occurrence of tests that are carried out by molecular biology.

The diagnostic methods are direct and indirect.

Direct Diagnostic Methods:

• It is used in particular in the diagnosis of infections localized to the lower genital tract (cervicitis) by detecting antigens using a ELISA type technique; are not as sensitive as molecular tests (but are commonly used). Classical cultivation is carried out only in reference laboratories and is not made for the current diagnosis.
• Molecular tests using the gene amplification technique (PCR, Polimerase Chain reaction) are of the most faithful, specific and sensitive, but are expensive and involve external quality control, strictly.

Indirect diagnostic methods:

• Include the detection of anti-Chlamydia antibodies trachomatis, being indicated in particular in the case of chronic or invasive infections and complications.
• It is considered that the presence of IgM and IgA anti-Chlamydia antibodies suggests acute infection, and the presence of IgG types can be met in chronic infections, but also after healing.

Effects of Infection on the fetus:

• Premature birth,
• Fetus born dead,
• Miscarriage
• Low birth weight

       Manifestations of the Chlamydia infection in the newborn:

• Ocular infections – Periodic ophtalmia Neonatorum
• Pulmonary infections

Diagnosis of Newborn 

• It is performed in newborns with conjunctivitis or/and mothers infected with Chlamydia.
• In the case of ocular infection is carried out from the conjunctival secretion tests of immunofluorescence or PCR.
• In the case of pulmonary infection is performed from the secretion of nazo-throat or aspirated tracheo immunofluorescence or PCR tests.

The infectious agent

            Chlamydias are increasingly recognized as being involved in sexually transmitted infections, ocular and pulmonary infections in the infant, resulting from maternal genital infection.

Chlamydias that can cause human infection are classified in:

• Chlamydia Trachomatis,
• Chlamydia pneumoniae,
• Chlamydia Psittaci.

Chlamydia trachomatis, is one of the genus chlamydia species, a binding intracellular bacterium, which exhibits two morphological forms, the infectious particle and the elemental Corpuscul. Chlamydia Trachomatis includes serotypes that determine trachomul, genital infections, pneumonia in infants but also other serotypes that determine Venereal Lymphogranuloma. The D-K serotypes of Chlamydia Trachomatis are responsible for the infection transmitted to perinatal in the newborn.

 Chlamydia pneumoniae causes respiratory diseases, including “atypical” pneumonia and appears to be involved in the impaired coronary artery.

Chlamydia Psittacii determines psittacosis in humans and can be transmitted by inhaling dry secretions from infected birds, poultry (parrots, macaws and Cockatieli) and poultry (turkeys and ducks).

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