Seroprevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in Taiwan

Scand J Infect Dis. 1993;25(5):565-8. doi: 10.3109/00365549309008544.

Abstract

Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR) is a relatively newly discovered respiratory tract pathogen which was first isolated in Taiwan. In order to describe the seroepidemiology of C. pneumoniae in Taiwan, we evaluated 1,085 stored serum samples: 904 from patients, 97 from umbilical cord blood samples, and 84 from medical personnel at the Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, between January 1 and April 30, 1991. Antibodies were determined by the use of a microimmunofluorescence test using elementary bodies of C. pneumoniae AR-39 as antigen. Sera were tested with screening titres of 16 and 512 for immunoglobulin G antibody. The antibody prevalence was found to be 23.1% in young children (6 months to 10 years old), rising to 66.7% in teenagers, and to 96.2% in older age groups. These rates were higher than any reported earlier. The progressively increasing rates of seropositivity found in older individuals indicated a surge of reinfection in these age groups. Only 5 cases were found with micro-IF IgG titres equal to or greater than 512. All were asymptomatic according to the hospital records. In addition to a high prevalence rate in Taiwan, the data also showed high infection rates in teenagers and elderly people.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chlamydia Infections / blood
  • Chlamydia Infections / epidemiology*
  • Chlamydia Infections / immunology
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Taiwan / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G