Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chlamydial serology in genital infections: ImmunoComb versus ipazyme

Chlamydien-Serologie bei Infektionen im Genitalbereich: ImmunoComb versus Ipazyme

  • Originalia
  • Published:
Infection Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The ImmunoCombChlamydia trachomatis IgG/IgA (Orgenics, Israel) is a new serologic test usingC. trachomatis L2 elementary bodies (Washington Research Foundation, Seattle) as antigen. The Ipazyme IgG/IgA test (Savyon, Israel) employs whole cells withC. trachomatis L2 inclusions, i. e. elementary and reticulate bodies. Theoretically, the ImmunoComb is expected to be less cross-reactive (LPS) withChlamydia pneumoniae than the Ipazyme (LPS and reticulate body group specific antigens). Compared with the Ipazyme, the ImmunoComb IgA showed both a higher positive predictive value (36% versus 25%) and sensitivity (67% versus 33%) for antigen detection in a control group of 100 post partum women with a 6% prevalence ofC. trachomatis positive cervical smears. In sterility patients (45 cases with occluded and 53 with open fallopian tubes) the tube status was predicted by the ImmunoComb (Ipazyme) with 74% (72%) positive predictive value, 87% (80%) sensitivity, and 87% (81%) negative predictive value. IgG/IgA prevalence in 118 patients withC. trachomatis positive cervical smears was 85%/55% for the ImmunoComb and 84%/49% for the Ipazyme. The ImmunoComb is considerably faster and easier in handling and less subjective in reading than the Ipazyme.

Zusammenfassung

Der ImmunoCombChlamydia trachomatis IgG/IgA (Orgenics, Israel) ist ein neuer serologischer Test, derC. trachomatis L2 Elementarkörperchen (Washington Research Foundation, Seattle) als Antigen verwendet. Beim Ipazyme IgG/IgA Test (Savyon, Israel) dienenC. trachomatis-L2-Einschlüsse infizierter Zellen als Antigen, das heißt Elementar- und Retikulärkörperchen. Theoretisch sind beim ImmunoComb weniger Kreuzreaktionen (LPS) mitChlamydia pneumoniae zu erwarten als beim Ipazyme Test (LPS und gruppenspezifische Retikulärkörperchen-Antigene). In einer Kontrollgruppe von 100 Wöchnerinnen mit einer 6%-Prävalenz anC. trachomatis-positiven Zervixabstrichen zeigte der ImmunoComb-IgA im Vergleich zum Ipazyme sowohl einen höheren positiven Vorhersagewert (36% gegenüber 25%) als auch eine höhere Sensitivität (67% gegenüber 33%) für den Antigennachweis. Bei Sterilitätspatientinnen (45 Fälle mit verschlossenen und 53 mit offenen Tuben) betrugen die Werte in bezug auf die Vorhersage des Tubenstatus beim ImmunoComb (Ipazyme) 74% (72%) für den positiven Vorhersagewert, 87% (80%) für die Sensitivität und 87% (81%) für den negativen Vorhersagewert. 118 Patientinnen mitC. trachomatis-positivem Zervixabstrich zeigten im ImmunoComb eine IgG/IgA Prävalenz von 85%/55% verglichen mit 84%/49% im Ipazyme. Der ImmunoComb ist beträchtlich schneller und einfacher in der Handhabung und weniger subjektiv in der Ablesung als der Ipazyme.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Petersen, E. E. Die Bedeutung der Chlamydieninfektion und ihre Therapie. Schwerpunktmedizin 11 (1988) 18–20.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mårdh, P. A., Löwing, C. Treatment of chlamydial infections. Scand. J. Infect. Dis. Suppl. 68 (1990) 23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brunham, R. C., Maclean, I. W., Binns, B., Peeling, R. W. Chlamydia trachomatis: its role in tubal infertility. J. Infect. Dis. 152 (1985) 1275–1282.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Monnickendam, M. A., Pearce, J. H. Immune responses and chlamydial infections. Br. Med. Bull. 39 (1983) 187–193.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Clad, A., Flohr, P., Petersen, E. E. Genital isolates ofChlamydia trachomatis survive 12 day antibiotic treatmentin vitro due to delayed cell lysis. In:W. R. Bowie (ed.): Chlamydial infections, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1990, pp. 523–526.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Clad, A., Baumgarten, B., Petersen, E. E.: Longterm persistence or disappearance of chlamydial IgA and IgG in gynecologic patients. In:P.-A. Mårdh (ed.): Proc. Eur. Society Chlamydial Research, University of Uppsala (1992) 119.

  7. Poulakkainen, M., Vesterinen, E., Purola, E., Saikku, P., Paavonen, J. Persistence of chlamydia antibodies after pelvic inflammatory disease. J. Clin. Microbiol. 23 (1986) 924–928.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wang, S. P., Graystone, J. T., Alexander, E. R., Holmes, K. K. Simplified microimmunofluorescence test with trachoma lymphogranuloma venereum (Chlamydia trachomatis) antigens for use as a screening test for antibody. J. Clin. Microbiol. 1 (1975) 250–255.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Graystone, J. T. Infections caused byChlamydia pneumoniae strain TWAR. Clin. Infect. Dis. 15 (1992) 757–763.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Saikku, P. The epidemiology and significance ofChlamydia pneumoniae. J. Infect. 25 (Suppl. 1) (1992) 27–34.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wang, S. P., Graystone, J. T. Population prevalence antibody toChlamydia pneumoniae, strain TWAR. In:W. R. Bowie (ed.): Chlamydial infections, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1990, pp. 402–405.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hanuka, N., Glasner, M., Sarov, I. Detection of IgG and IgA antibodies toChlamydia trachomatis in sera of patients with chlamydial infections: use of immunoblotting and immunoperoxidase assays. Sex. Trans. Dis. 15 (1988) 93–99.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Schachter, J., Cles, L., Ray, R., Hines, P. A. Failure of serology in diagnosing chlamydial infections of the female genital tract. J. Clin. Microbiol. 10 (1979) 647–649.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Darougar, S. The humoral immune response to chlamydial infection in humans. Rev. Infect. Dis. 7 (1985) 726–730.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kihlström, E., Lindgren, R., Ryden, G. Antibodies toChlamydia trachomatis in women with infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy. Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 35 (1990) 199–204.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Piura, B., Sarov, I., Sarov, B., Kleinman, D., Chaim, W., Insler, V. Serum IgG and IgA antibodies specific forChlamydia trachomatis in salpingitis patients as determined by the immunoperoxidase assay. Eur. J. Epidemiol. 1 (1985) 110–116.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Petersen, E. E.: Infektionen in Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe. Thieme Verlag, second edition, in press.

  18. Möller, B. R., Kaspersen, P., Kristiansen, F. V., Mårdh, P.-A. Chlamydia trachomatis in the upper female genital tract with negative cervical culture. Lancet ii (1986) 390.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Thejls, H., Heimer, G., Gnarpe, J., Larsson, G., Victor, A., Lundkvist, Ö. Diagnosis and prevalence of persistent chlamydial infection in infertile women: tissue culture, direct antigen detection, and serology. Fert. Steril. 55 (1991) 304–310.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Treharne, J. D., Forsey, T., Thomas, B. J. Chlamydial serology. Br. Med. Bull. 39 (1983) 194–200.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitäts-Frauenklinik, Hugstetterstr. 55, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany

    A. Clad, Ursula Flecken &  E. E. Petersen

Authors
  1. A. Clad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ursula Flecken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. E. Petersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Clad, A., Flecken, U. & Petersen, E.E. Chlamydial serology in genital infections: ImmunoComb versus ipazyme. Infection 21, 384–389 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01728919

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01728919

Keywords

Search

Navigation