Chlamydial isolates from Reiter's syndrome.

Abstract

Evidence has accumulated concerning the association of micro-organisms of the genus Chlamydia with Reiter's syndrome (RS). Isolations have been reported from the conjunctiva, genital tract, and synovial fluid or tissue, and antichlamydial complement-fixing (CF) antibodies have been demonstrated in the sera of patients (Schachter, Barnes, Jones, Engleman, and Meyer, 1966; Schachter, 1967; Kinsella, Norton, and Ziff, 1968; Ostler, Dawson, Schachter, and Engleman, 1971). However, the incidence of positive CF tests was reported (Kinsella and others, 1968) to be no greater than that seen in patients attending a venereal disease clinic who had no evidence of RS. Although most cases of RS are related to venereal exposure (Ford, 1968), non- gonococcal u.rethritis (NGU) and conjunctivitis associated with Chlamydia may follow venereal contact, and occur without additional signs that identify RS (Dunlop, Freedman, Garland, Harper, Jones, Race, Du Toit, and Treharne, 1967; Schachter, Rose, and Meyer, 1967). Furthermore, CF tests for chlamydial infection are regularly performed with a group antigen, and may be positive after infection with any type of chlamydial agent. Other serological evidence has been reported (Phillips and Christian, 1970) which implicates measles, paramyxovirus I, or a virus antigenically related to these, as possibly associated with RS. Norton (1969) reviewed the question of RS-Chlamydia association and analysed