Diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae among pregnant women by culture method and PCR on cppB gene

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a human obligate pathogen and the etiological agent of gonorrhea. Health irreparable complications resulting from gonorrhea disease occur mainly in pregnant women and neonates. Aim of this study was diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae among pregnant women with using culture and molecular method by amplification of cppB gene with PCR. In this cross-sectional study، two endocervical swab specimens were obtained from 1100 pregnant women who referred to Shiraz Hospitals. Culture on nonselective and selective media and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) were performed for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae cppB gene. All endocervical swabs cultures on selective and nonselective media were negative for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Among examined endocervical swabs، 13samples (1. 18%) were positive by nucleic acid amplification of Neisseria gonorrgoeae cppB gene. Negative results of culture and positive results of PCR in this study indicate that however culture is gold standard method for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae but due to bacterial autolysis، poor sampling techniques and improper specimen storage and transport، its value decline as compared with Nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).