GENOTYPING OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS FROM THE ENDOCERVICAL SPECIMENS IN WOMENS OF BELO HORIZONTE

Maira Juliana de Andrade Ribeiro (ICB/UFMG); Haleta Evangelista Lima Lemos (ICB/UFMG); Milena Batista Oliveira (ICB/UFMG); Juliana Godinho Correa (ICB/UFMG); Fatima Soares Motta Noronha (ICB/UFMG)

Introduction: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) constitute a major public health problem worldwide, particularly among women. According to the World Health Organization, 340 million new cases of STD occurred worldwide in 1999.  Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial agent of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). In women these bacteria cause urethritis and cervicitis, which may lead to complications such as ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Nowadays, , studies on the MOMP gene, omp1, showed the existence of at least 19 genotypes: A, B, Ba and C are associated to trachoma; D through K, including Ia and Ja, causing urogenital infections and genotypes L1, L2, L2a and L3 are agents of lymphogranyloma venereum. Objective: The goal of this study was to genotype C. trachomatis identified in endocervical samples of women assisted at a STD Public Service.. Methodology: Endocervical samples were tested for chlamydial infection with PCR for the cryptic plasmid. Genotyping of positive samples were done after omp1 amplification and sequencing. For some omp1 positive samples were made enzymatic restriction with the AluI enzyme. Results: We found 13 genetic variants out of a total of 18 omp1 gene sequences and five genotypes were characterized: D, E, F, K and L1. The enzymatic restriction showed the same genotypes found in the sequences analyses (E, K and L1) Genotypes E and K showed the highest mutation rate. Minor sequence variations were found in genotype F and L1. Conclusions: To our knowledge this study is the first one to characterize Brazilian Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital isolates. Our next point is to investigate the relationship of Brazilian genotypes with the clinical signals and symptoms with special attention to the asymptomatics and persistent infections.