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Prevalence of Asymptomatic Infection With Chlamydia pneumoniae in Subjectively Healthy Adults^*

^* From the Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki City, Okayama, Japan.

Correspondence to: Naoyuki Miyashita, MD, PhD, Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki City, Okayama 701-0192, Japan; e-mail: nao{at}med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp

Study objective: To investigate the prevalence of asymptomatic infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae in subjectively healthy adults.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Kawasaki Medical School Hospital in Kurashiki, Japan.

Participants: Total of 1,018 asymptomatic healthy adults (age range, 22 to 50 years; mean age, 32.4 years; 482 men and 536 women).

Measurements and results: Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from all subjects and analyzed by isolation in cell cultures and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for C pneumoniae. Serum samples were also obtained and tested for C pneumoniae-specific antibodies by the microimmunofluorescence test. Of 1,018 specimens tested, 14 specimens (1.4%) were judged positive by culture and/or the PCR. Thirteen specimens were PCR positive, and 4 specimens were culture positive. There were three specimens positive by both tests and 11 specimens positive with discrepancies in culture and PCR results. None of the individuals met the serologic criteria for acute infection. Of 1,018 sera tested, 64.1% of men and 58.0% of women had antibody to C pneumoniae. The overall prevalence of antibody was 60.9%. Forty individuals (3.9%) had an IgG titer of 1:512 or IgM titer of 1:16.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that asymptomatic infection with C pneumoniae may occur in subjectively healthy adults.

Key Words: asymptomatic infection • Chlamydia pneumoniae • healthy adults • persistent infection

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