Genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis from clinical specimens in Taiwan

1 Laboratory for Bacteriology and Mycology, Center for Laboratory Research and Diagnostics, Center for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan 2 Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 3 Taipei City Hospital, Branch for Disease Control & Prevention, Taipei, Taiwan 4 Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Correspondence Shu-Ying Li syl{at}cdc.gov.tw Received 26 July 2005 Accepted 15 November 2005 This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis genotypes in Taiwan. Urine and endocervical-swab samples were collected from two hospitals located in northern and southern Taiwan. The genotypes of a total of 145 samples positive for C. trachomatis were analysed by sequencing the omp1 gene and this was successful in 102 samples. Nine different C. trachomatis genotypes were identified. Genotype E was the most prevalent (22 %), followed by D and Da (19 %), F (16 %), J (15 %), K (11 %), G (11 %), H (6 %) and Ba (2 %). There was a geographical difference in the prevalence of genotype H ( P