Use of counter-immunoelectrophoresis for the detection of chlamydial antigens in serum.

An increasing number of reports on Chlamydia trachomatis pneumonia in infancy has recently been published in the literature. Demonstration of the aetiologic agent depends, however, on laborious culture procedures and serological techniques. Based on the observation of a cross-reaction between certain Acinetobacter species and Chlamydiae, the detection of chlamydial antigens in sera of 13 infants with pneumonia due to Chlamydia trachomatis was performed with antiserum to Acinetobacter by the counter-immunoelectrophoresis technique.