S. Schütt, A. Essig
Diagnostik von Chlamydien-Infektionen / Diagnosis of chlamydial infections
Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria undergoing
a unique growth cycle which is important for the special
features of diagnosis, therapy and pathogenesis of chlamydial
infections. Mainly Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia
pneumoniae and Chlamydia psittaci cause
infections in humans. The clinical relevance of chlamydia-
like species such as Simkania, Waddlia and Parachlamydia
is unclear and currently under investigation. In
principle, laboratory diagnosis of chlamydial infections
can be achieved by direct detection of the organisms
from clinical specimens and antibody detection. The
selection of suitable laboratory tests depends on the
chlamydial species and the clinical presentation of infection.
Culture tests have been proven to be highly specific,
however due to the high level of technical expertise necessary,
chlamydial cultures are generally performed in
specialized reference laboratories. Nucleic acid amplification
technologies are characterized by their high sensitivity
and have been broadly evaluated for the detection
of C. trachomatis from urogenital specimens. In contrast,
standardization of DNA amplification methods for detection
of C. pneumonia is urgently needed to evaluate the
importance of the organism in respiratory diseases, as
well as in associated extrapulmonary diseases like atherosclerosis.
Serodiagnosis of chlamydial infections
should be based on species-specific methods like the
technically demanding microimmunofluorescence test
(MIF). Commercially developed MIF assays, peptidebased
EIAs and immunoblot assays are still in a phase
of evaluation and may contribute to a more standardized
serodiagnosis of Chlamydia infections.
LaboratoriumsMedizin, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0025-8466
Volume: 28, 04/2004
Pages: 144 - 153
Show full article (external site)
Show all available items of this journal
Search
