Characterization of serum antibody response to chlamydiae in patients with sexually acquired reactive arthritis

Sera from patients with sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA) with antibodies reacting with C. trachomatis and C. pneumonine (group 1; n = 20) and also with C. psittaci (group 2; n = 19) were analyzed for antibody specificity. Sera from group 2 reacted significantly more often with C. trachomatis serotype E, H and K and had higher antibody titers to serotype E, as tested by microimmunofluorescence tests. Cross-reactivities occurring in microimmunofluorescence tests were related to the presence of antichlamydial lipopolysaccharide antibodies, adsorption of which by recombinant lipopolysaccharide removed microimmunofluorescence reactivity with C. psittaci antigen. In group 2, significantly more sera had antibodies to C. pneumoniae, remaining after lipopolysaccharide adsorption, as proved by adsorption with viable C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae organisms. None of the sera had antibodies to Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella flexneri, Sh. sonnei and Salmonella spp. It was observed that the frequency and titer of cross-reacting antibodies to chlamydial serotypes and species were related to the time period between the diagnosis of genital chlamydial infection and of SARA. Cross-reactivities were also related to the presence of lipopolysaccharide, but not heat shock protein 60- or neutralizing antibodies to chlamydiae. Antibody reactivity induced by antichlamydial lipopolysaccharide antibodies can be removed by lipopolysaccharide adsorption.