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Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1997 Oct;50(10):852–855. doi: 10.1136/jcp.50.10.852

Chlamydia trachomatis detected in human placenta.

M Gencay 1, M Puolakkainen 1, T Wahlström 1, P Ammälä 1, L Mannonen 1, A Vaheri 1, M L Koskiniemi 1
PMCID: PMC500268  PMID: 9462269

Abstract

AIMS: To evaluate the relation between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and stillbirth, placental tissue was studied for the presence of C trachomatis. METHODS: Paraffin wax embedded placental tissue of a stillbirth fetus, born at the 36th week of gestation to a 21 year old mother with high serum antibody titres to C trachomatis immunotypes during pregnancy and who was culture positive to C trachomatis three years previously, was studied by in situ hybridisation, polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry for the presence of C trachomatis. RESULTS: C trachomatis was detected in placental specimens by in situ hybridisation and alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase staining in several sections, whereas control tissues were uniformly negative, indicating the presence of C trachomatis nucleic acid and antigen in the placenta. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case in which C trachomatis has been demonstrated in the human placenta.

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Selected References

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