Serum IgG and IgA antibodies specific for Chlamydia trachomatis in salpingitis patients as determined by the immunoperoxidase assay

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Abstract
The feasibility of applying elevated Chlamydia trachomatis specific IgG antibody and serum IgA antibodies as a non-invasive screening test for C. trachomatis associated salpingitis was analysed in 54 salpingitis patients and 294 apparently healthy women by the single antigen (L2) immunoperoxidase assay (IPA). The prevalence rate of C. trachomatis IgG antibody (titre ≥64) was significantly higher in the salpingitis patients in comparison to control (67% versus 23%). The prevalence rate of elevated C. trachomatis IgG titres (≥128, ?256 and ≥542) was significantly higher in the salpingitis patients as compared to the controls. For example, at an IgG titre of ? 128 the prevalence rate was 57% in the salpingitis patients and 8% in the healthy controls (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of C. trachomatis IgA antibodies (titre ≥16) was significantly higher in salpingitis patients in comparison to controls (37% versus 4%). The prevalence of elevated IgA titres (≥32 and ≥64) was found to be significantly higher in salpingitis patients as compared to controls. All the IgA seropositive salpingitis patients were also found to have C. trachomatis IgG antibodies. It appears that testing for IgG antibodies at a serum dilution of 1:128, and for IgA antibodies at a dilution of 1:16 by the IPA test comprises the best combination for the differentiation between the salpingitis patients and apparently healthy controls, and it is suggested that this be used as a marker of active C. trachomatis infection.