Chlamydial genital infection in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A seroepidemiological survey.

Abstract

A seroepidemological survey was undertaken in Addis Ababa to assess the prevalence of chlamydial genital infections among patients attending a secually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic and patients with no overt genital symptoms. In the STD clinic, antibodies to C. trachomatis serotypes D-K (genital types) were detected in 68 of 210 (32.4%) men and 72 of 159 (45.3%) women, a rate of exposure as high or higher than that found in Europe. Serological evidence of active chlamydial infection was present in 26.7% of men and 28.9% of women. Women were at risk of contracting STD, including chlamydial infections, at the age of .ltoreq. 14 yr. The titers of antichlamydial IgG were extremely high in some patients attending the STD clinic, with titers of 1/512-1/8192 in 9.5% of men and 13.2% of women. Apparently, some patients had severe or disseminated chlamydial disease. The prevalence of exposure to chlamydial genital infections among 148 patients with no overt genital disease was 14.2%, which is significantly higher than tht found in the UK. Among the 517 patients tested, the prevalence of exposure to trachoma, lymphogranuloma venerum and C. psittaci agents was very low.