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Inapparent ocular infection by Chlamydia trachomatis in experimental and human trachoma
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Inapparent ocular infection by Chlamydia trachomatis in experimental and human trachoma

Alan P. Hudson, Catherine M. McEntee, Mark Reacher, Judith A. Whittum-Hudson, Hugh R. Taylor and Heidi R Taylor
Current eye research, v 11(3), pp 279-283
1992
PMID: 1375138

Abstract

There is substantial indirect evidence which suggests that Chlamydia trachomatis can generate inapparent, persistent infections in human. To confirm this directly, we examined ocular chlamydial infection in both the cynomolgus monkey model of trachoma and in patient samples from a trachoma-endemic area. In monkeys, ocular infection was studied over time using direct immunofluorescence cytology (DFA) and a molecular hybridization screening system which targets chlamydial ribosomal RNA. In eleven animals infected once with B serovar, DFA and probe screening of parallel conjunctival swabs gave congruent results through day 42 post-infection. Thereafter, DFA showed clearing of chlamydia and was negative by day 70, as in previous studies. In contrast, hybridization analysis indicated a continuing presence of chlamydial RNA in all samples from all animals through the end of the experiment at day 84 post-infection. Similarly, analysis of swabs from trachoma patients showed that a number of DFA-negative samples gave clear positive signal for chlamydial RNA. Taken together these data indicate that ocular chlamydial infection persists for longer periods than previously thought, judging solely on the basis of DFA, and they support the idea that inapparent ocular chlamydial infection occurs in vivo.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Ophthalmology
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