TY - JOUR
T1 - A population based seroepidemiological survey of Chlamydia pneumoniae infections in schoolchildren
AU - Dal Molin, G.
AU - Longo, B.
AU - Not, T.
AU - Poli, A.
AU - Campello, C.
PY - 2005/6
Y1 - 2005/6
N2 - Aim: A serosurvey was carried out in schoolchildren from a northeastern area of Italy to define the burden of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. Methods: A sample of 649 schoolchildren underwent a simplified version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and IgG and IgA antibodies were investigated using an enzyme immunoassay, followed by a microimmunofluorescence assay in reactive sera. Results: Of the children examined, 29% and 19.7% had IgG and IgA antibodies, respectively. The IgG prevalence increased with age. No other sociodemographical variable was related to C pneumoniae infection. An association was established between IgA prevalence and previous otitis media. Conclusions: A mesoendemic (intermediate between high and low endemic level) pattern of C pneumoniae infection is present in schoolchildren from this area and the prevalence rate is related to age. Moreover, this is the first epidemiological evidence of the role of C pneumoniae in otitis.
AB - Aim: A serosurvey was carried out in schoolchildren from a northeastern area of Italy to define the burden of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. Methods: A sample of 649 schoolchildren underwent a simplified version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and IgG and IgA antibodies were investigated using an enzyme immunoassay, followed by a microimmunofluorescence assay in reactive sera. Results: Of the children examined, 29% and 19.7% had IgG and IgA antibodies, respectively. The IgG prevalence increased with age. No other sociodemographical variable was related to C pneumoniae infection. An association was established between IgA prevalence and previous otitis media. Conclusions: A mesoendemic (intermediate between high and low endemic level) pattern of C pneumoniae infection is present in schoolchildren from this area and the prevalence rate is related to age. Moreover, this is the first epidemiological evidence of the role of C pneumoniae in otitis.
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U2 - 10.1136/jcp.2004.024380
DO - 10.1136/jcp.2004.024380
M3 - Article
C2 - 15917413
AN - SCOPUS:20444492471
VL - 58
SP - 617
EP - 620
JO - Journal of Clinical Pathology - Clinical Molecular Pathology
JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology - Clinical Molecular Pathology
SN - 0021-9746
IS - 6
ER -