Maternal–fetal transfer and longitudinal trends of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in early childhood

Abstract Introduction Sexually transmitted infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium can have significant implications during early childhood. This study aimed to assess maternal antibodies to C. trachomatis and M. genitalium in newborns, their vanishing, and offspring...

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Main Authors: Nea Koskela, Julia Butt, Birgitta E. Michels, Kari Syrjänen, Seija Grenman, Tim Waterboer, Stina Syrjänen, Karolina Louvanto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.15105
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author Nea Koskela
Julia Butt
Birgitta E. Michels
Kari Syrjänen
Seija Grenman
Tim Waterboer
Stina Syrjänen
Karolina Louvanto
author_facet Nea Koskela
Julia Butt
Birgitta E. Michels
Kari Syrjänen
Seija Grenman
Tim Waterboer
Stina Syrjänen
Karolina Louvanto
author_sort Nea Koskela
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Sexually transmitted infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium can have significant implications during early childhood. This study aimed to assess maternal antibodies to C. trachomatis and M. genitalium in newborns, their vanishing, and offspring's own seroconversion to these pathogens during the first 3 years of life. Material and Methods Altogether, 309 mother‐neonate pairs originally enrolled in the prospective Finnish Family HPV (FFHPV) cohort study at Turku University Hospital, Finland, were analyzed for serum IgG antibodies to plasmid protein gene 3 (pGP3) for C. trachomatis and M. genitalium protein of adhesion (MgPa N‐term) and recombinant MgPa for M. genitalium using multiplex serology, by serial sampling during a 3‐year follow‐up. Results A significant correlation between maternal and neonate antibodies to both C. trachomatis and M. genitalium was evident up to 2 months after birth and to C. trachomatis also at 6 months (p < 0.001). During the first 3 years of life, three children seroconverted IgG antibodies to C. trachomatis and one to M. genitalium. At the last (36‐month) follow‐up visit, five (2.1%) children were seropositive for C. trachomatis and only one (0.4%) for M. genitalium. Conclusions Both C. trachomatis and M. genitalium IgG antibodies are transferred from the mother to her offspring during pregnancy; similarly, this is shown for nearly all maternal IgG antibodies. Seroconversion for both C. trachomatis and M. genitalium in early childhood was a rare event. Further studies are required to elucidate the significance of C. trachomatis and M. genitalium antibodies acquired in early life.
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spelling doaj-art-e08f7d030add4cbf97d7edddcfe81ca42025-08-20T03:30:57ZengWileyActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica0001-63491600-04122025-07-0110471366137210.1111/aogs.15105Maternal–fetal transfer and longitudinal trends of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in early childhoodNea Koskela0Julia Butt1Birgitta E. Michels2Kari Syrjänen3Seija Grenman4Tim Waterboer5Stina Syrjänen6Karolina Louvanto7Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology Tampere University Tampere FinlandGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg GermanyGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg GermanySMW Consultants, Ltd Kaarina FinlandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital University of Turku Turku FinlandGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg GermanyDepartment of Oral Pathology, Institute of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine University of Turku Turku FinlandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology Tampere University Tampere FinlandAbstract Introduction Sexually transmitted infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium can have significant implications during early childhood. This study aimed to assess maternal antibodies to C. trachomatis and M. genitalium in newborns, their vanishing, and offspring's own seroconversion to these pathogens during the first 3 years of life. Material and Methods Altogether, 309 mother‐neonate pairs originally enrolled in the prospective Finnish Family HPV (FFHPV) cohort study at Turku University Hospital, Finland, were analyzed for serum IgG antibodies to plasmid protein gene 3 (pGP3) for C. trachomatis and M. genitalium protein of adhesion (MgPa N‐term) and recombinant MgPa for M. genitalium using multiplex serology, by serial sampling during a 3‐year follow‐up. Results A significant correlation between maternal and neonate antibodies to both C. trachomatis and M. genitalium was evident up to 2 months after birth and to C. trachomatis also at 6 months (p < 0.001). During the first 3 years of life, three children seroconverted IgG antibodies to C. trachomatis and one to M. genitalium. At the last (36‐month) follow‐up visit, five (2.1%) children were seropositive for C. trachomatis and only one (0.4%) for M. genitalium. Conclusions Both C. trachomatis and M. genitalium IgG antibodies are transferred from the mother to her offspring during pregnancy; similarly, this is shown for nearly all maternal IgG antibodies. Seroconversion for both C. trachomatis and M. genitalium in early childhood was a rare event. Further studies are required to elucidate the significance of C. trachomatis and M. genitalium antibodies acquired in early life.https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.15105C. trachomatisM. genitaliummaternal–fetal transfermothernewbornserology
spellingShingle Nea Koskela
Julia Butt
Birgitta E. Michels
Kari Syrjänen
Seija Grenman
Tim Waterboer
Stina Syrjänen
Karolina Louvanto
Maternal–fetal transfer and longitudinal trends of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in early childhood
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
C. trachomatis
M. genitalium
maternal–fetal transfer
mother
newborn
serology
title Maternal–fetal transfer and longitudinal trends of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in early childhood
title_full Maternal–fetal transfer and longitudinal trends of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in early childhood
title_fullStr Maternal–fetal transfer and longitudinal trends of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in early childhood
title_full_unstemmed Maternal–fetal transfer and longitudinal trends of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in early childhood
title_short Maternal–fetal transfer and longitudinal trends of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in early childhood
title_sort maternal fetal transfer and longitudinal trends of antibodies to chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasma genitalium in early childhood
topic C. trachomatis
M. genitalium
maternal–fetal transfer
mother
newborn
serology
url https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.15105
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