[Serotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis isolates].

Antigens can be used in the classification of microorganisms and can give information about the biological behaviour of the infectious agent and the spread of the infection. Starting with the mouse toxicity prevention test, followed by the two-step and then the one-step micro-IFT using polyclonal antibodies, C. trachomatis serovars are now typed with monoclonal antibodies. Worldwide, serovars D, E and F are found with the highest prevalence. No differences have been found between women and men in the prevalence of serovars. In addition, symptomatic and asymptomatic courses of the disease were not correlated with distinct serovars. The persisting technical difficulties of for large-scale typing could be overcome by the use of the polymerase chain reaction followed by treatment with endonucleases.