Prevalence of antichlamydial antibody in London blood donors.

Abstract

The prevalence of type-specific antichlamydial antibody in a population of blood donors in London was studied using a microimmunofluorescence test. Twenty-six (17%) of 150 women and 38 (26%) of 150 men had antichlamydial antibody (IgG at .gtoreq. 1/16 or IgM .gtoreq. 1/8 or both). Of these, 5 (3%) women and 1 (0.75%) man had this antibody directed against Chlamydia trachomatis serotypes D-K, responsible for genital infections, and 1 man had antibody to C. psittaci agents. The remaining 57 men and women had antibody against an atypical chlamydial isolate designated C. IOL-207, which is iodine-negative and serologically distinct from C. trachomatis and C. psittaci. The nature and location of infection by this agent are obscure. The results of this study suggest that the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection with C. trachomatis serotypes D-K in a normal adult population in London is very low.