LACK OF EVIDENCE OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENITAL SYMPTOMS, CERVICITIS AND SALPINGITIS AND DIFFERENT SEROVARS OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS

Isolates of Chlamydia trachomatis from 424 women were serotyped, and signs and symptoms related to the infecting serovar. Symptoms suggesting genital chlamydial infection were present in 37 % of the women, while 15 % had clinical findings consistent with lower genital tract infection or ascending infection. Cervicitis, adnexal tenderness and salpingitis were not associated with any specific serovar. On the contrary, the various clinical manifestations tended to occur at similar rates with the different serovars, suggesting a similar pathogenic potential of the serovars detected.