Molecular Detection of 16SrRNA of Chlamydia pneumoinae and specific IgE in Asthmatic Patients

Background: Chlamydia pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular organism and it is one of the common causes of upper respiratory tract infection. Microbes were blamed to trigger asthma in different mechanisms, one of these microbes is Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Aims of the study: This study was done to show the rate of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in asthmatic patients through detection of 16SrRNA of Chlamydia pneumoniae in blood and throat wash of patients using PCR test.
Methods: One hundred (120) asthmatic patients from both sexes and different age groups (2-84 years) were included in this study. These patients were attending the Clinic of Allergy and Asthma in Ramadi General Teaching Hospital, during the period extended from January to March 2011. Thirty (30) healthy individuals from both sexes were selected randomly to be considered as negative control group.
Blood specimens (5ml) and throat wash were taken from each patient, were employed for the detection of 16SrRNA of Chlamydia pneumoniae using PCR test. Pooled sera from 70 patients were employed for detection of IgE specific for Chlamydia pneumoniae using ELIZA test.
Results:
PCR test results of Blood specimens:
Among of 70 tested sera from asthmatic patients from both attack and remittance, thirty five (35), (50%) of the tested specimens were showing positive PCR test. Among patients, adult females were showing more positive PCR results for 16s r RNA of Chlamydia pneumoinae in their blood specimens 22 females (10, at attack and 12 at remittance), while all tested specimens from control group individuals were showing negative PCR results. Out of (50) tested throat wash specimens, five (5), (10%) of them were showing positive PCR for 16s r RNA of Chlamydia pneumoinae. Four (4) (8o%) of them were from adult patients at attack status and all control group individuals were showing negative PCR results IgE Specific for Chlamydia pneumoinae antigen, out of (54) tested sera from asthmatic patients, 37 of them were showing positive ELISA test for IgE specific for Chlamydia pneumoniae antigen, Adult females (24, (64. 8) were showing higher IgE positive results than males (P < o.o5). All tested sera (15) from control group individuals were showing negative IgE Chlamydia pneumoniae antigen. Positive correlation was found between the results of IgE specific for Chlamydia pneumoniae and PCR results for blood and throat wash specimens in both attack and remittance.
Conclusion: We can conclude from this study that Chlamydia pneumoinae is involved with asthma post infection to the lower respiratory tract and induction of allergy mediators like IgE in both sexes.