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Lee and Sohng: Cryptic Plasmid Amplification of Chlamydia trachomatis at a Korean Health Center for Female Commercial Sex Workers
Original Article
Korean Journal of Urology

Korean Journal of Urology 2006; 47(1): 37-41.

Published online: 31 January 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2006.47.1.37

Cryptic Plasmid Amplification of Chlamydia trachomatis at a Korean Health Center for Female Commercial Sex Workers

Gilho Lee, Inho Sohng

Department of Urology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.

Corresponding author (gilho@dankook.ac.kr)

Received 18 May 2005       Accepted 3 August 2005

Copyright © 2006 The Korean Urological Association

Abstract

Purpose

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease. It is generally accepted that female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) are at an increased risk of incurring sexually transmitted disease (STD) because of their high numbers of sexual partners. Even though chlamydial infections in FCSWs have been linked with serious public health problems, there are very few reports about the prevalence of chlamydial infection in FCSWs in Korea. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of chlamydial infection in FCSWs by performing cryptic plasmid gene amplification.

Materials and Methods

Genomic DNAs were extracted from the endocervical cotton swabs taken from 410 FCSWs in one Korean health center from April 2004 to August 2004; these FCSWs had visited there for periodic STD check ups. The human beta-globin and cryptic plasmid of Chlamydia trachomatis from the genomic DNA were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

Results

Four hundred and ten FCSWs (mean age: 25±6 years) were enrolled. A total of 410 endo-cervical samples from the FCSWs showed beta-globin bands in 1.5% agarose gel, and all the samples were included in this study. The cryptic plasmid was identified in 82 of the 410 FCSWs (20%).

Conclusions

We confirmed the FCSWs were a core group that spread Chlamydia. To promote public health and for cost effectiveness, massive screenings with gene amplification methods for the FCSWs to detect chlamydial infection are needed.

Keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis, Polymerase chain reaction, Prevalence, Sex, Workers

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results of human beta-globin (arrow). All the samples show a band of human beta-globin, which is a housekeeper gene. M: 100bp DNA ladder marker (Promega).
kju-47-37-g001
Fig. 2
PCR results of testing for the cryptic plasmid of Chlamydia trachomatis (arrow). The cryptic plasmid is identified in 82 of the 410 female commercial sex workers. M: 100bp DNA ladder marker (Promega).
kju-47-37-g002
Table 1
Primers used for human beta-globin and the cryptic plasmid of Chlamydia trachomatis
kju-47-37-i001

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