Comparison of platforms for testing antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis antigens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Togo

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 31;11(1):7225. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86639-8.

Abstract

Trachoma, caused by repeated ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), is targeted for elimination as a public health problem. Serological testing for antibodies is promising for surveillance; determining useful thresholds will require collection of serological data from settings with different prevalence of the indicator trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF). Dried blood spots were collected during trachoma mapping in two districts each of Togo and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Anti-Ct antibodies were detected by multiplex bead assay (MBA) and three different lateral flow assays (LFA) and seroprevalence and seroconversion rate (SCR) were determined. By most tests, the district with > 5% TF (the elimination threshold) had five-sixfold higher seroprevalence and tenfold higher SCR than districts with < 5% TF. The agreement between LFA and MBA was improved using a black latex developing reagent. These data show optimization of antibody tests against Ct to better differentiate districts above or below trachoma elimination thresholds.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / metabolism*
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Serologic Tests
  • Togo / epidemiology
  • Trachoma* / blood
  • Trachoma* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial