Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Chlamydia trachomatis Isolates From Reproductive Age Women in Trachoma-Endemic and Nonendemic Areas of Tanzania.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of sexually transmitted infections globally, responsible for various conditions including trachoma, genital infections, lymphogranuloma venereum, reactive arthritis, pneumonia, and neonatal conjunctivitis. This bacterium has 19 identified genotypes. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and genotype characterization of genital Chlamydia among women of reproductive age in both trachoma-endemic and nonendemic regions of Tanzania. Methods: From May 2022 to May 2023, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving 400 women attending antenatal and child health clinics in district hospitals located in trachoma-endemic and nonendemic areas. Endocervical swabs were collected, and DNA was extracted for analysis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the ompA gene, and the resulting PCR products were sequenced and compared with reference sequences from GenBank using BLAST to identify genotypes. Results: The prevalence of genital Chlamydia was 2.3% (9 cases). The genotypes detected were L1 and F, each accounting for 11.1% of the cases. The infection rate was particularly high among women aged 25 years or younger. Conclusion: The study found a significant prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among young women (≤ 25 years) and identified genotypes F and L1. These results highlight the need for ongoing surveillance and targeted public health strategies to manage and prevent Chlamydia infections, particularly among young women in both trachoma-endemic and nonendemic regions of Tanzania.