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Title: DISTINGUISHING ALL TAXONOMIC CLASSES OF CHLAMYDIA SPP. USING A PCR-RFLP DIAGNOSTIC TEST

Author
item Everett, Karin
item ANDERSEN, ARTHUR

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rapid diagnosis, identification, and classification of chlamydial infections are essential in both human and veterinary medicine and for assessment of public health risk. Present diagnostic methods are either specific for certain types of Chlamydia, do not reliably distinguish more than a few types, or use an anti-LPS probe that may cross-react with other gram-negative organisms. Unfortunately, chlamydial hosts can be infected with more than one type of Chlamydia or with crossreactive, non-chlamydial agents. Recently chlamydiae have been classified into nine distinct groups based on DNA sequence analysis of the 16S/23S ribosomal intergenic spacer and on Domain I of the 23S gene. A sensitive PCR-RFLP diagnostic test based on these sequences rapidly and reliably identifies whether Chlamydia is present, using most clinical specimens. It also distinguishes the nine types of Chlamydia. Biological variation among chlamydial strains, including sensitivity to antibiotics and differing transmissibility, correlates with these nine groups. Thus, decisive and rapid identification of chlamydial agents using PCR-RFLP based on these ribosomal sequences can improve a patient's prognosis and can limit the spread of disease. This PCR-RFLP test recognizes all known types of Chlamydia.