[Current methods in the diagnosis of Chlamydia infections].

The pathogenicity of Chlamydia species is no longer questioned and most figures indicate that these organisms are the leading cause of sexually transmitted diseases. Diagnosis by direct examination of a stained slide is not acceptable due to inadequate sensitivity. The use of monoclonal antibodies conjugated to ITCF, however, is a good method to detect chlamydial particles.

[New "chlamydia" isolation methods applied to the current medical practice and epidemiology (author's transl)].

From 935 men attending a consultation for veneral diseases and 117 women suffering from vaginal discharge, 1 052 genito urinary tract specimens were inoculated on monolayers of McCoy cells which were irradiated or treated with either cytochalasin B or 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine. The value of these technics was estimated in routine diagnostic procedures according to the number of positive cultures, regardless of the number of inclusions per culture and also by comparison of the number of inclusions seen in cells inoculated with reference strains of lymphogranuloma venereum, trachoma and human urethral Chlamydia. The best method seems to consist of the use of McCoy cells treated with cytochalasin B for routine isolation and of acridine orange for the staining of inclusions.