Variability of the Chlamydia trachomatis omp1 gene detected in samples from men tested in male-only saunas in Melbourne, Australia

A recent screening program in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, has shown that Chlamydia trachomatis is an important infection among men who frequent male-only saunas. To evaluate the C trachomatis isolates circulating in local saunas, the C trachomatis-positive samples collected during the program underwent amplification and sequencing of the omp1 gene, and the corresponding serovars were deduced. Forty-seven C trachomatis-positive samples collected (from October 2001 to September 2002) from 39 men were evaluated. The deduced serovars found, in descending order of prevalence, were D, G, and J; and serovars B, E, F, and H were each found in single samples. The seven different serovars identified in the study sample indicate that local saunas are a reservoir of multiple C. trachomatis strains, possibly maintained by the introduction of new patrons or regular patrons who have been exposed to C trachomatis elsewhere. No significant genetic variants were found, as most variable positions were silent and were detected only in single samples.