*Aminu Maryam and Ejiogu C. Nkechi SERO-PREVALENCE OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS IGM ANTIBODIES AMONG MALE STUDENTS PRESENTING WITH URINARY TRACT INFECTION AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES ABU MAIN CAMPUS, ZARIA, NIGERIA *Aminu Maryam and Ejiogu C. Nkechi Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria Corresponding Author: Dr. Maryam Aminu; maryamaminu@yahoo.com; 08033287031 37th Nigerian Society for Microbiology Conference, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. 2nd-5th September 2014 BACKGROUND DISCUSSION Chlamydia trachomatis belong to the family Chlamydiaceae and is recognized as one of the most common sexually transmitted pathogen of non-gonococcal and post-gonococcal urethritis. It is responsible for 30-60% of non-gonococcal urethritis in men. Genital infection with C. trachomatis is an escalating global public health concern worldwide. It affect both male and female reproductive tract and subsequently the reproductive organs and if left untreated leads to infertility in both sexes. Currently antibiotic treatment has failed to prevent the increase incidence of the disease and there is no available preventable vaccine. In pregnant women C. trachomatis is responsible for neonatal conjunctivitis, pneumonitis, post-partum endometritis, ectopic pregnancy and pre-labour amniorrhexis. In men it causes urethritis, epididymitis, burning infection of the prostate (prostatitis) and infection of the rectum (proctitis). The high prevalence of C. trachomatis IgM antibodies obtained in this study may not be unconnected with the fact that Chlamydial infections are usually latent with no clear cut symptom. This makes the disease to circulate among populations unnoticed. The high prevalence recorded among age group 21-25 years old could be attributed to the lifestyle of this age group. The high prevalence seen in the married male student is not surprising as it has been explained that men have been known to have large reservoir of Chlamydial infection and could repeatedly re-infect their partners even without knowing. Highest prevalence was observed among men with multiple sex partners because indiscriminate sex is a risk factor. Figure .1: Sero-prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis IgM antibody among male students presenting with UTI at UHS, ABU, Zaria. Table 1: Sero-prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis IgM antibodies in relation to age group and marital status among students in Zaria Variable Total Positive Prevalence (%) p-value Age group 0.955 15-20 11 1 9.1 21-25 39 9 23.1 26-30 16 2 12.5 31-35 18.2 36-40 13 15.4 41-45 0.0 46-50 Marital Status Singles 65 10 0.656 Married 27 6 22.2 CONCLUSION Chlamydia trachomatis was shown to be a cause of urinary tract infection among male patients in Main Campus, ABU, Zaria. It was detected with the highest prevalence among married patients, those within age group 21-25 years, those that had gonorrhea and those that engaged in unprotected sex. It is therefore recommended that awareness on C. trachomatis infection and its mode of transmission be created within and outside the University community. There is also the need to screen for Chlamydial infection in patients presenting with UTI. AIM The aim of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis IgM antibodies among male students presenting with urinary tract infection (UTI) at the University Health Services (UHS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria. Table 2: Sero-prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis IgM antibodies in relation to risk factors among male students presenting with UTI at UHS A.B.U. Samaru, Zaria Variable Total Positive (%) P-value Sex partners 0.670 None 12 1(8.3) One 58 11(18.9) Two 6 1(16.7) Three 16 3(18.8) Unprotected Sex Yes 61 10(16.4) 0.852 No 31 4(12.9) Gonorrhoea 14 4(28.6) 0.076 78 12(15.4) METHODS A total of 92 blood samples were collected from male students with UTI attending the UHS, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria. The sera were screened for IgM class antibodies to C. trachomatis using ELISA (Diagnostic Automation /Cortez Diagnostics. Inc. USA) REFERENCES Daouger et al. (1982). Chlamydial genital infection in Ibadan, Nigeria: sero-epedemiological survey. Bri J of Ven Dis, 58:366-369. Hussaini et al. (1988). Chlamydia trachomatis as a cause of pneumonia and conjunctivitis. J of Trop Paed, 31:250-257. Idahl et al. (2004). Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in men. Human Rep Oxford J, 19:1121-1126. Ghanaat et al. (2008). Prevalence of genital Chlamydia in Iranian males with urethritis attending clinics in Mashhad. E Med Health J, 14:63-93. Carey et al. (2010). Chlamydia trachomatis hidden epidemics: Effects on female reproduction and options for treatment. Amr J of Rep Imm, 63:576-586 RESULTS Out of the 92 samples analyzed, 16(17.4%) were positive for chlamydial IgM antibodies. The highest prevalence (23.1%: 9/39) was found among patients in age group 21-25 years but the antibodies were not detected in patients above 41 years (p > 0.05). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We acknowledge all health personnel and students enrolled in the study for their cooperation.