Use of different Taq DNA polymerases for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in cervical samples

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Chlamydia trachomatis is a small gram-negative bacterium sexually transmitted, which progresses asymptomatically in the majority of infected people, causing long-term damage mainly in the female reproductive system. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been the diagnostic method most widely used in recent epidemiological studies by presenting superior sensitivity than the other sensitivity tests. For a good performance of PCR, the choice of enzymes is very important because they have different characteristics that influence their performance. 
OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the detection of C. trachomatis using three commercial enzymes Taq DNA polymerases in 280 cervical samples. 
METHODS: The enzymes used were: Taq DNA Polymerase Recombinant (Invitrogen, USA), Platinum^® Taq DNA Polymerase (Invitrogen, USA) and Platinum^® Taq DNA Polymerase High Fidelity (Invitrogen, USA). 
RESULTS: 280 cervical samples from women living in Coari City, Amazonas State, Brazil were analyzed, whose average age was 36.3 years old, the majority had low educational level, their first sexual intercourse was around 15.7 (SD = 0.7) with an average number of 3.7 children. 42.5% had clinical complaints during the visit, with a predominance of vaginal discharge, itching, pelvic pain and painful urination. Of the 280 samples, four (1.4%) were positive using the recombinant Taq DNA polymerase, seven (2.5%) using the enzyme Platinum^® Taq DNA Polymerase and 11 (3.9%) specimens were positive using Platinum^® Taq DNA Polymerase High Fidelity. Statistical analysis showed no difference between groups (p = 0.186). 
CONCLUSION: Enzyme Taq DNA polymerases with different properties show differences in performance in the detection of C. trachomatis.