Seroepidemiological study of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in blood donors from the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract: The prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and epidemiological factors associated with the chlamydial infection were studied in donors of a blood bank located in Porto Alegre – RS/Brazil. In a total number of 494 blood samples, 149 (30.2%) were positive for C. trachomatis, 105 (28.2%) from males and 44 (36.4%) from females. The higher risk to acquire chlamydial infections was observed in 28-32-year old females with past clinical history of amniotic sac rupture and premature newborn as well as 23-27-year old males with past clinical history of gonorrhea and/or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).