The data on serovar distributions of Chlamydia trachomatis - the most diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide - are important for epidemiologic purposes and transmission studies but are completely lacking in Russia. The aim of the current study is to determine the serogroup and serovar distributions in Russian men and women and compare these data with Dutch serogroup and serovar distributions. In Russian men and women, serogroup B was the most prevalent (46%), followed by the intermediate serogroup (I group; 33%) and serogroup C (21%). The distribution was comparable between men and women. The serogroup distribution was similar to the previously published distribution in Dutch cohorts. However, on a serovar level statistically very significant differences were observed, reaching up to P < 0.0001. The serovars B and G/Ga had higher prevalences compared with the reported Dutch prevalences, while serovars F, H, I/Ia, J and K had lower prevalences compared with the Dutch studies. In conclusion, this is the first report of Russian C. trachomatis serovar/serogroup distributions. Serogroup B is the most prevalent, followed by serogroup I and serogroup C with no statistical differences on the serogroup level. However, significant differences between Russia and the Netherlands were observed in the distribution of C. trachomatis serovars.
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