PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Busson, Laurent
AU  - Crucitti, Tania
AU  - De Foor, Marc
AU  - Van den Wijngaert, Sigi
AU  - Vandenberg, Olivier
TI  - Observation of a cytopathogenic effect on cell lines used for routine viral cultures led to the diagnosis of lymphogranuloma venereum
AID  - 10.1136/sextrans-2012-050785
DP  - 2013 Aug 01
TA  - Sexually Transmitted Infections
PG  - 395--397
VI  - 89
IP  - 5
4099  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/89/5/395.short
4100  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/89/5/395.full
SO  - Sex Transm Infect2013 Aug 01; 89
AB  - Objectives This article reports the fortuitous recovery of nine Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L strains in cell cultures (Vero and LLC-MK2 cell line) designed for viral culture. Methods Nine ano-genital swabs were inoculated on confluent Vero, MRC5 and LLC-MK2 cell cultures. They were collected from HIV-positive patients who were primarily men who have sex with men (MSM) presenting ulcerations that mimicked herpes simplex infections. Results A cytopathogenic effect was observed on Vero and LLC-MK2 cells on day 14. The presence of C trachomatis serovar L in the cell lines was confirmed by Real Time–PCR. Conclusions C trachomatis serovar L can grow on Vero and LLC-MK2 cell lines designed for viral cultures. Lymphogranuloma venereum must be considered as a differential diagnosis for herpes-like lesions, particularly in MSM with high-risk behaviours.