Submitted by Amanda Silva (amanda.osilva2@ufpe.br) on 2015-03-11T13:27:51Z No. of bitstreams: 2 DISSERTAÇÃO Keilla Maria Silva.pdf: 4228154 bytes, checksum: ea3da547f9bdeacfacd07ad7ced6d809 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-11T13:27:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 DISSERTAÇÃO Keilla Maria Silva.pdf: 4228154 bytes, checksum: ea3da547f9bdeacfacd07ad7ced6d809 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-25 / CNPq / O Papilomavírus Humano (HPV) é um agente sexualmente transmissível que se destaca por infectar o trato anogenital, e devido à sua associação etiológica com uma grande variedade de carcinomas, encontra-se entre as mais importantes infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (IST) da atualidade. Acredita-se que a presença do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) e da Chlamydia trachomatis parecem favorecer a infectividade viral, proporcionando o surgimento de lesões que podem levar ao câncer. Desta forma, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os genótipos do HPV presentes em amostras cervicais e anais, correlacionando com a infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis. Realizou-se um estudo incluindo 73 mulheres com idade entre 17 e 65 anos, atendidas no Hospital das Clínicas de Pernambuco (HC/UFPE) entre novembro de 2010 e fevereiro de 2013. As amostras foram obtidas e a extração do DNA foi realizada através de kits específicos. Posteriormente, os genótipos do HPV foram determinados pelo PapilloCheck® (GreinerBio-One) e a identificação da Chlamydia trachomatis por PCR em Tempo-Real. A prevalência do HPV no canal anal foi de 83,6%, estando associado com história de intercurso anal (p=0.0295) e infecção por HIV (p=0.0104). Infecção múltipla por HPV foi observada em 50,8% das pacientes, sendo o HPV44 o mais comum. Nos grupos HIV-positivo e HIV-negativo, o genótipo de alto risco mais frequente foi o HPV16, enquanto que HPV44 e o HPV43 foram os genótipos de baixo risco mais encontrados, respectivamente. A taxa de concordância entre os genótipos de HPV cervical e anal chegou a 52%. Apenas um paciente apresentou infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis em canal anal. Os resultados sugerem que o canal anal pode ter participação na infecção cervical funcionando como reservatório do vírus. Desta forma, o rastreamento dessas pacientes no serviço público de saúde pode favorecer um diagnóstico precoce, auxiliando os médicos no acompanhamento e prevenindo a evolução da infecção, principalmente em pacientes HIV-positivas.

Submitted by Reginaldo Soares de Freitas (reginaldo.freitas@ufv.br) on 2018-05-25T12:56:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1186028 bytes, checksum: 22a128dd3187d1676fa8c422340d4483 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Reginaldo Soares de Freitas (reginaldo.freitas@ufv.br) on 2018-05-25T12:56:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1186028 bytes, checksum: 22a128dd3187d1676fa8c422340d4483 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Reginaldo Soares de Freitas (reginaldo.freitas@ufv.br) on 2018-05-25T12:56:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1186028 bytes, checksum: 22a128dd3187d1676fa8c422340d4483 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-25T12:56:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1186028 bytes, checksum: 22a128dd3187d1676fa8c422340d4483 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Algumas infecções vaginais, como as vaginoses e a infecção por C. Trachomatis, foram associadas ao desenvolvimento de hipertrofia cervical e metaplasia escamosa, indicando uma possível relação com o HPV no desenvolvimento das NICs e carcinoma escamoso do colo uterino. Há na literatura alguns estudos sobre o assunto, ainda sem um consenso definitivo. Nesse sentido, este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a presença de C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae e do papilomavírus humano e suas relações com as lesões cervicais em amostras de citologia cervical, casos e controles, obtidas no ambulatório de ginecologia, do Centro de Especialidades Médicas da Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte. A detecção e genotipagem do HPV, além da detecção da C. trachomatis e N. gonorrhoeaea foram realizadas pela técnica de PCR. Das 186 amostras obtidas, 79 eram o grupo controle e 107 eram do grupo dos casos, portadoras de lesão cervical (38 baixo grau,44 alto grau e 25 CCE). A prevalência de HPV foi 67,7%, da clamídia 19,9% e da gonorreia 3,6%. Os genótipos do HPV mais encontrados foram o HPV 16, 59 e 45. A infecção por mais de um genótipo viral teve associação positiva com a presença de lesões cervicais em geral, e especificamente com lesões de alto grau e câncer. Não houve associação com lesões de baixo grau. As infecções por clamídia e gonorréia, mesmo em associação com HPV, não resultaram em aumento de alterações cervicais. A infecção por N. gonorrhoeaea teve 100% de coinfecção com C.trachomatis, com OR de 5,8 (p<0,0001, 95% IC 4,21-7,99). / Some vaginal infections, such as vaginosis and chlamydia, have been associated with the development of cervical hypertrophy and squamous metaplasia, indicating a possible relationship with HPV in the development of CINs and squamous carcinoma of the cervix. There are some studies in the literature on the subject, still without a definitive consensus. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of chlamydia trachomatis, neisseria gonorrhoeae and human papillomavirus and their relationship with cervical lesions in cervical cytology samples, cases and controls obtained from Santa Casa Medical Center in Belo Horizonte. HPV detection and genotyping in addition to the detection of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae were performed by the PCR technique. Of the 186 samples obtained, 79 were the control group and 107 were from the group of cases, with cervical lesions (38 low grade, 44 high grade and 25 CEC). The prevalence of HPV was 67.7%, chlamydia 19.9% and gonorrhea 3.6%. The most common HPV genotypes were HPV 16, 59 and 45. Infection with more than one viral genotype was positively associated with the presence of cervical lesions in general, and specifically with high grade lesions and cancer. There was no association with low grade lesions. Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections, even in association with HPV, did not result in increased cervical changes. N. gonorrhoeaea infection had 100% coinfection with C.trachomatis, with OR of 5.8 (p <0.0001, 95% CI 4.21-7.99). / Não foi apresentado título em inglês. Não foi localizado o cpf do autor.

Purpose of Review: To emphasize key gaps in knowledge impacting efforts to control single infection and co-infections with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide. Recent Findings: Clinical and epidemiological studies describe gaps in understanding about female rectal CT infection, screening effectiveness, pelvic inflammatory disease, and influence of the microbiome. For NG, gaps in knowledge include factors increasing incidence in men who have sex with men, correlations between treatment and antibiotic resistance, the role of pharyngeal infection, and microbiome influence. CT/NG co-infections are poorly understood, and adequate models to explore pathophysiological consequences of co-infection urgently needed. The sole existing CT/NG co-infection mouse model showed that CT/NG interactions in vivo modulate host response and NG load/shedding—encouraging further consideration of this model and potential alternatives. Summary: We stress key challenges in controlling these important STIs. Appropriate, quality-assured animal models are essential to improve understanding of the pathogenic interplay in CT/NG co-infections.

Nectin-1 is an adhesion protein implicated in the organization of adherens junctions and tight junctions in epithelial cells. Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated that nectin-1 accumulation was significantly decreased in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected HeLa cells. In the present study, Western blot analyses indicated that nectin-1 down-regulation was C. trachomatis concentration-dependent. The half-life of nectin-1 was also greatly diminished in C. trachomatis-infected cells compared to that observed in mock-infected cells, indicating that nectin-1 was likely down-regulated post-translationally. The chlamydia-secreted protease CPAF is known to degrade several important host proteins; CPAF expression within infected cells correlated with the time-dependent cleavage of nectin-1. Notably, CPAF proteolytic activity is inhibited by lactacystin but not by the proteosome inhibitor MG132. In vivo inhibition experiments demonstrated that nectin-1 down-regulation was blocked by lactacystin exposure. In contrast, MG132 had no effect. Finally, cell-free cleavage assays demonstrated that functional recombinant GST-CPAFwt protein degrades nectin-1. This degradation was blocked by lactacystin, as previously observed in vivo. Collectively, these results indicate that nectin-1 is degraded by CPAF in C. trachomatis-infected cells, a novel strategy that chlamydiae may use to aid their dissemination.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that can infect the eyes, genital tract, and disseminate to lymph nodes in humans. Many C. trachomatis infections are clinically asymptomatic and can become chronic if left untreated. When humans are infected with C. trachomatis, a cytokine that is produced is interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). In vitro, IFN-γ stimulates expression of the host enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. This enzyme converts free intracellular tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine. Tryptophan starvation induces C. trachomatis to enter a viable-but-nonculturable state termed persistence, which has been proposed to play a key role in chronic Chlamydial disease. To circumvent host induced tryptophan depletion, urogenital strains of C. trachomatis encode a functional tryptophan synthase (TS). TS synthesizes tryptophan from indole and serine, allowing Chlamydia to reactivate from persistence. Transcriptomic analysis revealed C. trachomatis differentially regulates hundreds of genes in response to tryptophan starvation. However, genes that mediate entry, survival, and reactivation from persistence remain largely unknown. Using a forward genetic screen, we identified six Susceptible to IFN-γ mediated Persistence (Sip) mutants that have diminished capacities to reactivate from persistence with indole. Mapping the deleterious persistence alleles in three of the Sip mutants revealed that only one of the mutants had a mutation in TS. The two other Sip mutants mapped had mutations in CTL0225, a putative integral membrane protein, and CTL0694, a putative oxidoreductase. Neither of these genes plays a known role in tryptophan synthesis. However, amino acid (AA) competitive inhibition assays suggest that CTL0225 may be involved in the transport of leucine, isoleucine, valine, cysteine, alanine, and serine. Additionally, metabolomics analysis indicates that all free amino acids are depleted in response to IFN-γ, making this amino acid transporter essential during persistence. Taken together we have identified two new chlamydial persistence genes that may play a role in chronic chlamydial disease.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies in the world. The prevalence of a microbial signature in ovarian cancer has been reported by several studies till date. In these microorganisms, Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and Chlamydia trachomatis (C.tr) are especially important as they have significantly high prevalence rate. Moreover, these pathogens are directly involved in causing DNA damage and thereby disrupting the integrity of host genome which is the underlying cause of any cancer. This study focuses on how the two pathogens, HHV-6 and C. trachomatis can affect the genome integrity in their individual capacities and thereby may drive ovarian epithelial cells towards transformation. HHV-6 has unique tendency to integrate its genome into the host genome at subtelomeric regions and achieve a state of latency. This latent virus may get reactivated during the course of life by stress, drugs such as steroids, during transplantation, pregnancy etc. The study presented here began with an interesting observation wherein the direct repeat (DR) sequences flanking the ends of double stranded viral genome were found in unusually high numbers in human blood samples as opposed to normal ratio of two DR copies per viral genome. This study was corroborated with in vitro data where cell lines were generated to mimic the HHV-6 status in human samples. The same observation of unusually high DR copies was found in these cell lines as well. Interestingly, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and inverse polymerase chain reaction followed by southern blotting showed that DR sequences were found to be integrated in nontelomeric regions as opposed to the usual sub-telomeric integration sites in both human samples and in cell lines. Sanger sequencing confirmed the non-telomeric integration of viral DR sequences in the host genome. Several studies have shown that C. trachomatis causes DNA damage and inhibits the signaling cascade of DNA damage response. However, the effect of C. trachomatis infection on process of DNA repair itself was not addressed. In this study, the effect of C. trachomatis infection on host base excision repair (BER) has been addressed. Base excision repair is a pathway which is responsible for replacing the oxidized bases with new undamaged ones. Interestingly, it was found that C. trachomatis infection downregulated polymerase β expression and attenuated polymerase β- mediated BER in vitro. The mechanism of the polymerase β downregulation was found to be associated with the changes in the host microRNAs and downregulation of tumor suppressor, p53. MicroRNA-499 which has a binding site in the polymerase β 3’UTR was shown to be upregulated during C. trachomatis infection. Inhibition of miR-499 using synthetic miR-499 inhibitor indeed improved the repair efficiency during C. trachomatis infection in the in vitro repair assay. Moreover, p53 transcriptionally regulates polymerase β and stabilizing p53 during C. trachomatis infection enhanced the repair efficiency. Previous studies have shown that C. trachomatis can reactivate latent HHV-6. Therefore, genomic instability due to insertions of unstable ‘transposon-like’ HHV-6 DR followed by compromised BER during C. trachomatis infection cumulatively support the hypothesis of pathogenic infections as a probable cause of ovarian cancer / Diese Studie fokussiert sich darauf, wie die beiden Pathogene HHV-6 und C. trachomatis die Genom Integrität beeinflussen und dadurch die Transformation ovarialer Epithelzellen zu Tumorzellen antreiben können. Das latente Virus HHV-6 kann sich in Subtelomer-Regionen des Genoms integrieren und zu jeder Lebensphase (z.B. durch Stress oder Pharmaka) reaktiviert werden. Zu Beginn dieser Studie wurde die Beobachtung gemacht, dass in menschlichen Blutproben eine ungewöhnlich hohe Anzahl an sogenannten direct repeat Sequnzen, die die Enden des doppelsträngigen Virus Genoms flankieren, aufwiesen. Bestätigt wurde diese Beobachtung durch in vitro Daten, wofür Zelllinien generiert wurden, um den HHV-6 Wert in menschlichen Proben zu imitieren. Außerdem konnte durch Sanger Sequenzierung die Integration der viralen DR Sequenzen außerhalb von Telomer Regionen in das Genom nachgewiesen werden. Verschiedene Studien konnten zeigen, dass C. trachomatis DNA Schäden verursacht und die Signal Kaskade von Antworten auf DNA-Schäden inhibiert. Bisher wurde die Auswirkung einer C. trachomatis Infektion auf den Prozess der DNA Reparatur selbst noch nicht behandelt. In dieser Studie wird die Auswirkung einer C. trachomatis Infektion auf Basen-Exzisionsreparatur (BER) thematisiert. Interessanterweise wurde herausgefunden, dass während einer C. trachomatis Infektion die Expression von Polymerase β herunterreguliert ist und dadurch die Polymerase β-vermittelte Basen-Exzisionsreparatur in vitro gestoppt wird. Diese Herunterregulierung konnte mit einer verminderten Expression des Tumorsuppressor p53 assoziiert werden. Darüber hinaus reguliert p53 auf transkriptioneller Ebene Polymerase β und eine Stabilisierung von p53 während einer C. trachomatis Infektion verbesserte die Reparatur-Effizienz. Vorangegangene Studien haben außerdem gezeigt, dass C. trachomatis die latente Form von HHV-6 reaktivieren kann. Deshalb unterstützt die genomische Instabilität aufgrund einer Insertion von HHV-6 DR, gefolgt von komprimierter BER während einer C. trachomatis Infektion, zunehmend die Hypothese, dass eine pathogene Infektion ein vermutlicher Auslöser von Eierstockkrebs sein könnte.

Introduction. Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is an obligate intracellular bacterium, causing a range of diseases in humans. Interactions between chlamydiae and antibiotics have been extensively studied in the past. Hypothesis/Gap statement: Chlamydial interactions with non-antibiotic drugs have received less attention and warrant further investigations. We hypothesized that selected cytokine inhibitors would alter Ct growth characteristics in HeLa cells. Aim. To investigate potential interactions between selected cytokine inhibitors and Ct development in vitro. Methodology. The CCR5 receptor antagonist maraviroc (Mara; clinically used as HIV treatment), the triterpenoid celastrol (Cel; used in traditional Chinese medicine) and the histamine H1 receptor antagonist azelastine (Az; clinically used to treat allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis) were used in a genital in vitro model of Ct serovar E infecting human adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa). Results. Initial analyses revealed no cytotoxicity of Mara up to 20 µM, Cel up to 1 µM and Az up to 20 µM. Mara exposure (1, 5, 10 and 20 µM) elicited a reduction of chlamydial inclusion numbers, while 10 µM reduced chlamydial infectivity. Cel 1 µM, as well as 10 and 20 µM Az, reduced chlamydial inclusion size, number and infectivity. Morphological immunofluorescence and ultrastructural analysis indicated that exposure to 20 µM Az disrupted chlamydial inclusion structure. Immunofluorescence evaluation of Cel-incubated inclusions showed reduced inclusion sizes whilst Mara incubation had no effect on inclusion morphology. Recovery assays demonstrated incomplete recovery of chlamydial infectivity and formation of structures resembling typical chlamydial inclusions upon Az removal. Conclusion. These observations indicate that distinct mechanisms might be involved in potential interactions of the drugs evaluated herein and highlight the need for continued investigation of the interaction of commonly used drugs with Chlamydia and its host.

Introdução: A infecção urogenital por Chlamydia trachomatis é a doença sexualmente transmissível bacteriana mais prevalente no mundo e afeta principalmente mulheres jovens sexualmente ativas. Infecções não tratadas podem provocar complicações reprodutivas decorrentes do dano tubáreo. Na gestação, aumenta o risco de parto prematuro, baixo peso ao nascer, morte perinatal, conjuntivite e pneumonia neonatal. Existem poucos dados brasileiros referentes à epidemiologia dessa infecção no nosso meio. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a prevalência de C. trachomatis em mulheres inférteis e em gestantes. Método: Foram analisadas transversalmente 77 mulheres inférteis e 60 gestantes assintomáticas. Foram coletadas amostras urinárias para ensaio de PCR e amostras sanguíneas para pesquisa de anticorpos IgG através da técnica de imunofluorescência indireta. Todas as participantes responderam um questionário referente ao seu histórico clínico e ginecológico. Resultados: A prevalência, tanto no ensaio de PCR quanto na imunofluorescência indireta (IgG) para C. trachomatis foi similar entre os grupos. Encontramos anticorpos IgG presentes em 61% das mulheres inférteis e em 56,7% das gestantes. Houve somente 1 PCR positivo no grupo das inférteis (1,3%) e nenhum do grupo das gestantes. Conclusão: Encontramos alta prevalência de anticorpos IgG para C. trachomatis em mulheres inférteis e em gestantes, mas verificamos baixa prevalência de PCR positivo nas participantes. A presença de IgG correlacionou-se com comportamento sexual e tabagismo. / Background: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection and affects mainly young, sexually active, women. Untreated infection may lead to reproductive complications due to tubal damage. Infections during pregnancy may cause preterm labor, low birth weight, perinatal death and neonatal conjunctivitis and pneumonia. There is little data on CT infection in Brazil. The aim of this study was to determine CT prevalence on infertile and pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 77 infertile and 60 asymptomatic pregnant women. First void urine was tested to CT using PCR and blood samples were collected for CT IgG antibodies testing using Indirect Immunofluorescence. A questionnaire about medical, gynecological and sexual history was applied to all participants. Results: We found statistically similar prevalence of PCR and IgG antibodies between groups. This study observed a 61% prevalence of CT IgG antibodies in infertile women and 56,7% in pregnant women. PCR was positive in only one (1,3%) infertile woman and in none of the pregnant. Conclusion: A high prevalence of C. trachomatis IgG antibody in Brazilian pregnant and infertile women, but a low prevalence of positive PCR on urine samples were demonstrated. CT antibodies were associated with sexual behavior and smoking.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-11T13:38:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Norma Suely de Lima Freitas.pdf: 2299430 bytes, checksum: 139bbbb8dc0c714ef7d443c796111a50 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-28 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmitting bacterium that causes great impact on females reproductive health and also, constitutes an important problem for the publichealth. The infection by C. trachomatis is estimated about 90 million cases worldwide. C. trachomatis is considerated the most prevalent sexually transmitting bacterium mainly in developing countries and causes diseases on urogenital tract, venereal limphogranuloma and others. One of the risks of infection is the practice without protection among adolescents. The recurring risk is common without the use of preservatives. The diagnostic is critical because most of the times the infection is assynptomatic. In females, the infection by C. trachomatis cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and the consequences can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronicle pelvic pain. The nucleic acid amplification techniques allow us to use small amount of samples to detect Chlamydia. The choice of the technique to detect Chlamydia trachomatis was Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) that offers greater sensitivity and specificity than tests as immunoassay and bacteria culture, for estimate the prevalence of this pathogen in endocervical samples of infertiles women attended in the clinic of infertility of the Dona Francisca Mendes University Hospital, in Manaus-Am-Brazil. The study population consisted of 106 women with infertility diagnosis and was realized medical gynecologic examination to obtain samples for the amplification of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA plasmid. Informations of the socialeconomic-demographs variations and clinics variations were obtained through questionaire and through signature consent term that were aplicated for each patient that participated in this study. For the statistical analysis were used the software Epi-Info 3.3 for Windows and the significant level used in the tests were 5%. The prevalence found for Chlamydial infection by the PCR method were 52,8%. To confirm the weak band found of 241 pb at the amplification region, were realized the analysis on the 6% Poliacrilamid gel and DNA sequencing of DNA Chlamydial plasmid. In relation to the PCR test and socialdemographs variations, the statistical analysis demonstrated significant assocation of 5% (p < 0,05) only for the family income (2 to 4 salaries). About variability of genes, were verified at ten samples that were sequenced minimal variations from 1,1% up to 3,3% comparing to the Chlamydia trachomatis plasmid. Due to the high prevalence found of Chlamydia trachomatis in this study, were verified the necessity to implant the detections programs in large scale, using the PCR method in clinicals samples, for having the most sensitive and specificity to determine the reduction of this pathogen in sexually active men and women. / A Chlamydia trachomatis é uma bactéria sexualmente transmissível, de grande impacto no sistema reprodutivo das mulheres, sendo também um importante problema para a Saúde Pública. A estimativa dos casos de infecção por C. trachomatis é de 90 milhões em todo o mundo. A C. trachomatis é considerada a bactéria sexualmente transmissível de maior prevalência, principalmente em países desenvolvidos e causa doenças do trato urogenital, linfogranuloma venéreo (LGV) e outras. Um dos fatores de risco para a infecção é a prática sexual sem proteção que é comum em adolescentes. O risco da recorrência sem uso do preservativo é comum. O diagnóstico é crítico devido à freqüência de infecções assintomáticas. Em mulheres, a infecção pela C. trachomatis causa doença inflamatória pélvica (DIP) e as suas conseqüências podem ser a infertilidade, gravidez ectópica e dor pélvica crônica. As técnicas de amplificação de ácidos nucléicos permitem utilizar pequenas quantidades de amostras para a detecção da clamídia. A escolha da técnica para detecção de Chlamydia trachomatis foi Reação em Cadeia de Polimerase (PCR) que apresenta uma maior sensibilidade e especificidade do que os testes de imunodetecção e de cultura celular, para estimar a prevalência desse patógeno em amostras endocervicais de mulheres inférteis atendidas na clínica de infertilidade do Hospital Universitário Dona Francisca Mendes, na cidade de Manaus-AM-Brasil. A população de estudo consistiu de 106 mulheres com diagnóstico de infertilidade e foi realizado o exame médico ginecológico para a obtenção de amostras para o exame de amplificação do DNA plasmidial da Chlamydia trachomatis. As informações das variáveis sócio-econômico-demográficas e variáveis clínicas foram obtidas através de questionário, mediante da assinatura do termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido aplicado para cada paciente que participou do estudo. Para a análise estatística foi utilizado o software Epi-Info 3.3 para Windows e o nível de significância utilizado nos testes foi de 5%. A prevalência por infecção clamidial encontrada pelo método de PCR foi 52,8%. Para confirmação das bandas fracas de 241 pb encontradas na região amplificada, realizou-se a análise no gel de Poliacrilamida 6% e sequenciamento do DNA plasmidial de Chlamydia trachomatis. Com relação ao teste da PCR e variáveis sócio-demográficas, a análise estatística realizada demonstrou associação significativa de 5% (p < 0,05) apenas para renda familiar (2 a 4 salários mínimos). Quanto à variabilidade gênica verificou-se que nas dez amostras seqüenciadas houve mínima variabilidade genética variando de 1,1% a 3,3% em relação ao plasmídio de Chlamydia trachomatis. Devido a alta prevalência de Chlamydia trachomatis encontrada neste estudo, verificou-se a necessidade de implantação de programas de detecção em massa, utilizandose o método da PCR em amostras clínicas, por possuir maior sensibilidade e especificidade para determinar a diminuição na incidência deste patógeno em homens e mulheres sexualmente ativas.

A Chlamydia trachomatis é um patógeno causador de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DST). Esse agente afeta significativamente a saúde sexual e reprodutiva de mulheres, estando relacionado à esterilidade em número bastante significativo,sendo também responsável por desfechos em gestantes acometidaspor DSTs no Brasil e no mundo. Apesar da sua alta prevalência, muito pouco se sabe sobre a distribuição de genótipos de Chlamydiatrachomatis. Este estudo teve como objetivo estimar a prevalência e os fatores associados à infecção causada por esse patógeno em gestantes admitidas na Maternidade da Fundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará. O estudo constou de uma amostra mínima de 363 gestantes atendidas por demanda espontânea, sendo incluídas na amostra o excedente de 32 gestantes totalizando 395 gestantes,em um período da coleta de 3 meses. Foram aplicados testes Qui-quadrado para verificação de associações entre as variáveis selecionadas para ump<0,05 como estatisticamente significativo. A prevalência de infecção porChlamydiafoi de 9,11%. A infecção porChlamydianão se associou à idade(p = 0,826),à realização de consulta pré-natal (p = 0,451),à presença de HIV (p = 0,379)ao exame VDRL(p = 0,344) ou à prematuridade (p = 0,229). O estudo mostra alta prevalência de infecção por Chlamydiatrachomatis em gestantes. A infecção urogenital por Chlamydia trachomatis representa uma importante causa de morbidade perinatal, que pode ser adequadamente tratada por antibioticoterapia durante a gestação. A prevalência da infecção mostrou-se também superior às obtidas em outras populações de gestantes, sendo o Estado do Pará considerado de alta prevalência para a infecção. Fatores de risco para DSTs, como baixa idade, ausência de parceiro fixo e concomitância com outras DSTs apresentam-se importantes também dentro do quadro da infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis. / Chlamydia trachomatis is a pathogen that causes sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This agent significantly affects the sexual and reproductive health of women, and is related to sterility in a rather significant number of cases. It is also responsible for outcomes in pregnant women who have STIs in Brazil and worldwide. Despite its high prevalence, very little is known about the distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis genotypes. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with infection caused by this pathogen in pregnant women admitted to the Maternity Department at Fundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará, in the state of Pará. Sample of 363 pregnant women seen due to spontaneous demand, and the sample included the surplus of 32 pregnant women, to a total of 395 pregnant women in a 3-month collection period. Chi-Square tests were applied to verify the associations between the variables selected for a p < 0.05 as statistically significant. The prevalence of Chlamydia infection was 9.11%. The result of Chlamydiawas not associated with age (p = 0.826), antenatal visit (p = 0.451), presence of HIV (p = 0.379) VDRL test (p = 0.344) and with prematurity (p = 0.229). The study shows a high prevalence of infection due to Chlamydiatrachomatis in pregnant women. Urogenital infection due to Chlamydia trachomatis is a major cause of perinatal morbidity, which can be treated by antibiotics during pregnancy. The prevalence of infection also proved superior to those obtained in other populations of pregnant women, and the state of Pará is considered a place with a high prevalence of the infection. Risk factors for STIs, such as young age, absence of a fixed partner and concomitance with other STIs are also important in the picture of infection by Chlamydia trachomatis.