First-trimester pregnancy loss and active Chlamydia trachomatis infection: correlation and ultrastructural evidence

The incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection and the possible correlation between couples presenting with first-trimester spontaneous abortions and active Ct infection was assessed. Additionally, the ability of Ct to infect zona-free hamster oocytes was explored by incubating the oocytes with spermatozoa from infected patients. A total of 961 women and 750 men consulting our reproductive medicine centre were screened for Ct using direct immunofluorescence. The general incidence of Ct infection was 9.4% in females (90 of 961) and 13.9% in males (104 of 750). In women with spontaneous abortions the incidence of Ct was 21.0% (14 of 66) compared with 8.9% (23 of 59) for women without spontaneous abortions and term pregnancies (chi-square, P < 0.05). When both partners of the couples were considered (one or both partners infected), the incidence rose to 68.8% (22 of 32) (chi-square, P < 0.001). In vitro studies using electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of Ct on the surface of and inside the oocyte. These results indicate a correlation between an active Ct infection and spontaneous abortion. Electron microscopy studies suggested the possibility of direct oocyte infection by Ct. Two models are proposed for the pathogenesis of Ct-related early abortions: (i) direct zygote infection, and (ii) immune response to heat shock proteins expressed by the zygote and triggered by previous Ct infections.