Journal List > Korean J Urogenit Tract Infect Inflamm > v.8(2) > 1059936

Kim and Lee: Swedish Variant of Chlamydia trachomatis in Korea

Abstract

Purpose

Today, many urologists use nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) in diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Korea. A new variant of C. trachomatis with a deletion in the cryptic plasmid, which cannot be detected using commercial tests targeting the deleted DNA sequences, has been found in Sweden. Therefore, the partial deletion of cryptic plasmid DNA means that the diagnostic standards cannot detect chlamydial infection any more in cases of new mutants. The mutant type has been prevalent in Sweden, however, its incidence was not high in other countries such as France, Holland, and Denmark. In or to study the existence of this mutant C. trachomatis in Korea, we developed new primer sets for detection of this mutation.

Materials and Methods

We collected the first voided urine from male urethritis patient from April 2012 to August 2013 (Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, Korea). We used the 25 confirmed C. trachomatis-positive specimens by using KL1 and KL2 primers for C. trachomatis and tested the existence of mutant chlamydial infection with the newly developed primer sets.

Results

We could not detect any new variant in the samples.

Conclusions

Although this mutant C. trachomatis is not seen in Korea, we should watch for the occurrence of the type in the future. I would like to briefly report on implications of the surging mutant forms and how we might attain an understanding of this phenomenon.

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Fig. 1.
Schematic view of the partial Chlamydia trachomatis cryptic plasmid DNA sequences (reference sequence: HE603233.1). Chlamydia trachomatis plasmid pSW2, strain Sweden2, serovar E (reference sequence; FM8654) revealed 1 377-bp deletion in CDS1 region (box). CDS; coding sequence.
kjutii-8-98f1.tif
Fig. 2.
(A) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results of testing for the cryptic plasmid of Chlamydia trachomatis by using a primer set KL1 and KL2. (B) PCR results of testing for the Swedish mutant cryptic plasmid of Chlamydia trachomatis by various primer sets. M: 100 bp DNA ladder marker.
kjutii-8-98f2.tif
Table 1.
Primer pairs used for polymerase chain reaction of Chlamydia trachomatis
Primer name Sequences (5’→3’)
Forward GAGCTCCGATTTTGAATAGCT
Reverse 1 AATTACCTCTTCCCCAGAACA
Reverse 2 TTACCTCTTCCCCAGAACA
Reverse 3 AA(C)TTACCTCTTCCCCAGAACA
KL1 TCCGGAGCGAGTTACGAAGA
KL2 ACCAATCCCGGGCATTGATT
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