Chlamydia trachomatis in fallopian tubes of women undergoing laparoscopy for ectopic pregnancy

Objectives To study whether Chlamydia trachomatis is absent or persists in a latent state in the fallopian tube at the time of laparoscopic salpingectomy for tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP). Methods We examined tissue of the fallopian tubes for the presence of C. trachomatis from women who underwent laparoscopic salpingectomy for EP. Presence or absence of C. trachomatis was assessed using both Probe Tec ET (define Tec and ET please) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Ausdiagnositic STD 6 assays) DNA amplification. Results Fresh tubal tissue from 17 women with histological confirmation of EP was examined in a hospital setting for the presence of C. trachomatis. The presence of C. trachomatis DNA was confirmed by PCR using a commercial test (BD ProbeTec (TM) ET System), and a real-time enhanced PCR able to detect few copies of the organism. Chlamydia DNA was detected in 0/16 tubal specimens, and in one case, the PCR analysis was not possible for presence of inhibitors. Conclusions We did not find any evidence of latent infection of C. trachomatis in the fallopian tube at the time of laparoscopic salpingectomy for EP in our study. Although the numbers are small, our results suggest that EP can be considered a late complication of the tubal damage resulted from a previous acute Chlamydia infection and that EP may not be related to a latent persistence of Chlamydia in the fallopian tube.