ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2020
Viability PCR shows that non-ocular surfaces could contribute to transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in trachoma.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 28 citations in OpenAlex.
- Community-level trachoma ecological associations and the use of geospatial analysis methods: A systematic review.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2022Pooled it
- The prevention and management of postoperative trachomatous trichiasis: A systematic review.Survey of ophthalmologyPooled it
- A Randomised Trial of Three Face-Washing Methods for the Removal of Chlamydia trachomatis From the Faces of Children With Severe Active Trachoma.Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH · 2026Trial
- Understanding the impact of covariates for trachoma prevalence prediction using geostatistical methods.BMC global and public health · 2025Article
- Trachoma.Lancet (London, England) · 2025Review
- Distribution and viability of ocular and non-ocular Chlamydia trachomatis in households in a trachoma-endemic community in Oromia, Ethiopia.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma After Three Rounds of Antibiotic Mass Drug Administration in 13 Woredas of Gambella Region, Ethiopia.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2024Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma in Four Evaluation Units in Yemen after Implementation of Trachoma Elimination Measures.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2024Article
- Insights into Pathogenesis of Trachoma.Microorganisms · 2024Review
- Field- and laboratory-based studies on correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis transmission by Musca sorbens: Determinants of fly-eye contact and investigations into fly carriage of elementary bodies.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024Article
- Anthelmintic and Hepatoprotective Activities of the Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Against Parascaris equorum Infection in Rats.Acta parasitologica · 2024Article
- Prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular and associated factors among children aged 1-9 years in northeastern Ethiopia.BMC pediatrics · 2024Article
- High prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular with no trachomatous trichiasis: can alternative indicators explain the epidemiology of trachoma in Côte d'Ivoire?International health · 2023Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma from 66 Impact Surveys in 52 Woredas of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' and Sidama Regions of Ethiopia, 2017-2019.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2023Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma following Implementation of the SAFE Strategy in Three Local Government Areas of Taraba State, North Eastern Nigeria.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2023Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma in Pre-validation Surveillance Surveys in 11 Evaluation Units (Covering 12 Districts) in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia: Results from 2018-2020.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2023Article
- Prevalence of Trachoma after Implementation of Trachoma Elimination Interventions in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia: Results of Impact Surveys in 131 Evaluation Units Covering 139 Districts.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2023Article
- Using model-based geostatistics for assessing the elimination of trachoma.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2023Article
- Association ofFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2023Article
- Use of viability PCR for detection of live Chlamydia trachomatis in clinical specimens.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
11 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe presence of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) DNA at non-ocular sites suggests that these sites may represent plausible routes of Ct transmission in trachoma. However, qPCR cannot discriminate between DNA from viable and non-viable bacteria. Here we use a propodium monoazide based viability PCR to investigate how long Ct remains viable at non-ocular sites under laboratory-controlled conditions.
methodsCultured Ct stocks (strain A2497) were diluted to final concentrations of 1000, 100, 10 and 1 omcB copies/μL and applied to plastic, woven mat, cotton cloth and pig skin. Swabs were then systemically collected from each surface and tested for the presence Ct DNA using qPCR. If Ct DNA was recovered, Ct viability was assessed over time by spiking multiple areas of the same surface type with the same final concentrations. Swabs were collected from each surface at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hours after spiking. Viability PCR was used to determine Ct viability at each timepoint.
resultsWe were able to detect Ct DNA on all surfaces except the woven mat. Total Ct DNA remained detectable and stable over 24 hours for all concentrations applied to plastic, pig skin and cotton cloth. The amount of viable Ct decreased over time. For plastic and skin surfaces, only those where concentrations of 100 or 1000 omcB copies/μL were applied still had viable loads detectable after 24 hours. Cotton cloth showed a more rapid decrease and only those where concentrations of 1000 omcB copies/μL were applied still had viable DNA detectable after 24 hours.
conclusionPlastic, cotton cloth and skin may contribute to transmission of the Ct strains that cause trachoma, by acting as sites where reservoirs of bacteria are deposited and later collected and transferred mechanically into previously uninfected eyes.
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