This study used a high-resolution genotyping method, namely, multilocus variable number tandem-repeat analysis with ompA sequencing (MLVA)-ompA, to investigate the local epidemiology of C. trachomatis infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) and men who have sex with women (MSW) attending a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic in Guangzhou, China.


 All specimens that were tested positive for C. trachomatis by the commercial nucleic acid amplification tests were genotyped by MLVA-ompA.


 One hundred and forty-four of the 147 specimens were fully genotyped by MLVA-ompA.  The most frequent genotypes were D, G, J, E and F. All specimens were further divided into 46 types after ompA genotyping was combined with MLVA.  The discriminatory index D was 0.90 for MLVA, 0.85 for ompA, and 0.95 for MLVA-ompA.


 The most prevalent MLVA-ompA genotypes were significantly different between MSM and MSW from Guangzhou, China.  Moreover, MLVA-ompA represented a more favorable degree of discrimination than ompA and could be a reliable complement for ompA for the routine subtypes of C. trachomatis.
MLVA
All specimens that were tested positive for C. trachomatis by the commercial nucleic acid amplification tests were genotyped by MLVA-ompA.


 One hundred and forty-four of the 147 specimens were fully genotyped by MLVA-ompA.  The discriminatory index D was 0.90 for MLVA, 0.85 for ompA, and 0.95 for MLVA-ompA.


 The most prevalent MLVA-ompA genotypes were significantly different between MSM and MSW from Guangzhou, China.  Moreover, MLVA-ompA represented a more favorable degree of discrimination than ompA and could be a reliable complement for ompA for the routine subtypes of C. trachomatis.
MLVA-ompA
All specimens that were tested positive for C. trachomatis by the commercial nucleic acid amplification tests were genotyped by MLVA-ompA.



nucleic acid amplification tests
All specimens that were tested positive for C. trachomatis by the commercial nucleic acid amplification tests were genotyped by MLVA-ompA.


 One hundred and forty-four of the 147 specimens were fully genotyped by MLVA-ompA.  The discriminatory index D was 0.90 for MLVA, 0.85 for ompA, and 0.95 for MLVA-ompA.


 The most prevalent MLVA-ompA genotypes were significantly different between MSM and MSW from Guangzhou, China.  Moreover, MLVA-ompA represented a more favorable degree of discrimination than ompA and could be a reliable complement for ompA for the routine subtypes of C. trachomatis.
MLVA-ompA