MOLECULAR DETECTION OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS INFECTION IN INFERTILE AND PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ASSISSTED CONCEPTION CLINICS IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA
Faustina Ugochinyelum Amu* Gloria Ngozika Wokem and Easter Godwin Nwokah
ABSTRACT
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections remain a leading sexually transmitted disease throughout the world and studies have linked this infection to adverse pregnancy, female infertility and poor outcomes in infant health. This study was to evaluate the prevalence of this infection among infertile women attending assisted conception clinics (Case study group) and those attending antenatal clinics (Control group) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A total of 120 endocervical swab samples were obtained from consenting women, sixty (60) from each group. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method was used for the detection of this infection. Overall prevalence rate was 60% (72 0f 120). The result further revealed a statistically non-significant (p=0.480) higher rate among the infertile women (39(65%) of 60) as against 33(55%) of the 60 pregnant women (control group). The greater percentage of the positive cases was within the 25-34 age group in both subjects and this age group is known to be more sexually active. Results also showed that 15.8% of the total subjects were asymptomatic. In conclusion, this study has revealed that the infection is significantly present in the two groups and could be a major contributor to increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes and infertility as seen presently. 15.8% asymptomatic rate is of great concern and all these therefore underscore the urgent need for more awareness in our local setting, regarding this infection, especially on early diagnosis to guide management and care.
Keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Infertile women, Pregnant women.
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