Development of multiplex real-time quantitative PCR for simultaneous detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma parvum

ObjectivesChlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are common pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases. The majority of human ureaplasma isolates belong to the new species U. parvum. Clinically, C. trachomatis and U. parvum usually double infect in the nongonococcal urethritis patients. A novel method for simultaneous detection of C. trachomatis and U. parvum was set up in the present work.Design and methodsMultiple real-time quantitative PCR was developed to allow for rapid, sensitive, specific and quantitative detection of C. trachomatis and U. parvum, simultaneously. To evaluate the applicability of the multiplex real-time quantitative PCR assay to clinical specimens, 64 samples of cervical swabs collected were studied.ResultsCompared to the results obtained from single real-time quantitative PCR of C. trachomatis and U. parvum, the specificity, sensitivity and quantitative detection results of multiple real-time quantitative PCR are approximately identical with those of the former.ConclusionsThis assay will be of great value in the simultaneous and rapid diagnosis of C. trachomatis and U. parvum in the future.

► Multiplex real-time PCR can detect C. trachomatis and U. parvum simultaneously.
► Our detection method is more rapid, sensitive, specific and quantitative.
► Our results are approximately identical with single real-time quantitative PCR’s.
► Our detection method will decrease hospital costs and save labor.