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C hlamydia trachomatis in fallopian tubes of women undergoing laparoscopy for ectopic pregnancy
Author(s) -
Stamatopoulos Nicole,
Casikar Ishwari,
Reid Shan,
Roy Bronwen,
Branley James,
Mongelli Max,
Condous George
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2012.01456.x
Subject(s) - chlamydia trachomatis , fallopian tube , salpingectomy , ectopic pregnancy , gynecology , chlamydiaceae , laparoscopy , medicine , salpingitis , pregnancy , andrology , biology , surgery , genetics
Objectives To study whether C hlamydia trachomatis is absent or persists in a latent state in the fallopian tube at the time of laparoscopic salpingectomy for tubal ectopic pregnancy ( EP ). Methods We examined tissue of the fallopian tubes for the presence of C . trachomatis from women who underwent laparoscopic salpingectomy for EP . Presence or absence of C . trachomatis was assessed using both P robe T ec ET (define T ec and ET please) and real‐time polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) (Ausdiagnositic STD 6 assays) DNA amplification. Results Fresh tubal tissue from 17 women with histological confirmation of EP was examined in a hospital setting for the presence of C . trachomatis . The presence of C . trachomatis DNA was confirmed by PCR using a commercial test ( BD P robe T ec™ ET System), and a real‐time enhanced PCR able to detect few copies of the organism. C hlamydia DNA was detected in 0/16 tubal specimens, and in one case, the PCR analysis was not possible for presence of inhibitors. Conclusions We did not find any evidence of latent infection of C . trachomatis in the fallopian tube at the time of laparoscopic salpingectomy for EP in our study. Although the numbers are small, our results suggest that EP can be considered a late complication of the tubal damage resulted from a previous acute C hlamydia infection and that EP may not be related to a latent persistence of C hlamydia in the fallopian tube.