Objective: A contribution to the role of chlamydial heat shock protein in women from the IVF program. Design: A serological study proving the antibodies against the chlamydial heat shock protein. Setting: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Department of Clinical Microbiology, and Centrum of Reproductive Medicine, Faculty Hospital Brno. Methods: The IgG antibodies against the chlamydial heat shock protein (cHSP60) and the IgA and IgG antibodies against species specifi c chlamydial major outer membrane protein (cMOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) in the blood serum of 70 females being in the fertilization program due to fertility disorders (Group 1) have been estimated and the results compared with those obtained in 50 females suffering from pelvic infl ammation disease (PID) (Group 2) and in 51 female blood donors (Group 3) respectively. Results: The anti-cHSP60 antibodies have been ascertained as follows: in 26 women from the fi rst group (37.1%), in 16 of the second group (32.0%) and in 12 (23.5%) of female blood donors. The anti cHSP60 – antibody – occurrence and mean index of positivity as well, found in the groups examined, was statistically insignifi cant. Similarly no difference has been found in the occurrence of the species specifi c anti-cMOMP antibodies C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae in the groups examined. The anti- -cMOMP antibodies against C. trachomatis and simultaneously against C. pneumoniae have been detected in 21 from 171 women of all groups (12.3%), only against C. trachomatis in 9 (5.3%) and against C. pneumoniae in 73 of them (42.7%). There was considerably higher occurrence of the specifi c antibodies against C. trachomatis in women with a positive fi nding of antibodies against the cHSP60, especially in women suffering from gynecological disorders, than in women without such antibodies. Conclusion: C. trachomatis has a signifi cant impact on the production of antibodies against the cHSP60. This fact can be documented by considerably higher occurrence of the specifi c antibodies against C. trachomatis in women with a positive fi nding of antibodies against the cHSP60, than in women without such antibodies. Preceding infection C. trachomatis and following sensitization with chlamydial heat shock protein indicate an unfavourable prognosis of the reproductive outcome and impairs the perspective of a successful in vitro fertilization. The proof of antibodies against the chlamydial HSP60 can be recommended as a further auxiliary criterion in women suffering from fertility disorders.

        Key words: HSP60, C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae, antibodies, fertility disorders, blood donors