Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by Immunofluorescence, Papanicolaou and Immunoperoxidase in Women with Leucorrhea

Bacteriological, Papanicolaou, direct immunofluorescense (DIF) and immunoperoxidase studies were done in 245 samples from women with vaginal discharge and the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis was investigated. The samples were obtained from two hospitals of the Public Health Services of Mexico City. Samples were taken from the endocervical and posterior fornix areas and streaked in different cultures media for the isolation and microbiological diferentiation. Smears were done and stained by Gram, Papanicolaou, DIF and immunoperoxidase techniques and the presence of cytólogical alterations and Chlamydia trachomatis was investigated. The microorganism was detected in 8 patients by the three methods, only 4 of these were found by DIF, 7 by cytological and 6 by inmunoperoxi-dase techniques. The infection caused by C. trachomatis cytologically was asociated with mild or moderate dysplasia but not with some special microorganism.