Background: In Cameroon, C. trachomatis screening is not routinely practiced, and its epidemiology is still unexplored. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection, its risk factors and the genotypes circulating in the West Cameroon region.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst patients in five district hospitals in the West region of Cameroon. Endocervical samples were collected from women visiting the hospitals forantenatal, prenuptial and contraception consultations and at least 18 years old, sexually active, and non-menstruating. The molecular detection of C. trachomatis was performed using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing of the ompA gene.Results: The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was determined to be 11.47%. Having sex for the first time between the ages of 15 and 17 (OR=1.683, 95% CI: 1.1-2.5), non-usage of condom (OR=1.622, 95% CI: 1.2-2.1), being single (OR=1.263, 95% CI: 1.0-1.5) and age range 18-30 years (OR=1.426, 95% CI: 1.1-1.8) were risk factors for C. trachomatis infection. Three genotypes of C. trachomatis circulated in West Cameroon viz. D (49%), E (29.4%) and G (21.6%).Conclusions: This study revealed that, three genotypes; D (dominant), E and G were identified circulating in the population of the study area. This information may be important for controlling the dissemination of C. trachomatis infection in West Cameroon as well as strategizing the therapeutic approach.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a public health problem worldwide. Although antibiotic resistance of this strict intracellular bacterium is rare, it is important to monitor the appearance of resistance genes to available efficient antibiotics. This study aimed to screen for mutations in some of these genes in C. trachomatis clinical isolates, which may be associated to resistance to quinolone and macrolide antibiotics. Thirty-five endocervical samples were collected from women aged between 18 and 49 in five district hospitals in the Western Region of Cameroon. The mutations in quinolones (parC and gyrA) and macrolides (L4, L22 and 23S rRNA) resistance domains were detected by PCR followed by sequencing on positive samples to C. trachomatis. The overall mutation rate for the studied genes was 60% in the studied samples. Seven (20%) and twelve (34%) samples presented mutations in the parC and gyrA gene respectively. Mutations in L4 (11.42%) and L22 (60%) were detected in ours samples, while no mutation was found in 23S rRNA gene. Seven clinical samples (20%) presented mutations to both macrolide and quinolone resistance genes. This study revealed a relatively high rate of mutations in the resistance genes to macrolides and quinolones in C. trachomatis in the West Cameroon. This rate of mutation calls for the competent authorities for better surveillance of C. trachomatis infection in West Cameroon to avoid a sudden increase in resistance to antibiotics in the years to come.