Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis Antigen in Cervical Secretions and Serum in Infertile Females Undergoing ICSI

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most frequently detected agent of sexually transmitted infections worldwide. It is an obligate intracellular bacteria. CT infection of the lower female genital tract (FGT) can cause cervicitis and if ascending to the upper FGT may result in serious sequelae such as pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis and tubal factor infertility. The purpose of this prospective study is the detection of CT antigen in cervical secretions and serum antibodies in infertile females undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The study was carried out at Tanta University Hospital in a period from June 2017 to September 2018. It was a prospective observational study, including 40 infertile females undergoing ICSI (patient group), and 20 multiparous women attending the outpatient clinic for contraception (control group). We found that only 7.5% of the study group were positive for serum IgG compared with 20% of the control group. Further, in the study group, we found that serum IgM was found positive only in 5% in both studied groups. Similarly, Chlamydia antigen the cervical swab was detected in 5% of both the study and control group. The very low prevalence rate of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Egyptian females is justifiable by the cultural and religious impact on the sexual lifestyle in the Egyptian population. This low prevalence rate of CT infection in Egyptian females minimizes its role as a cause of infertility in the Egyptian population.