AEGiS-11IAC: In-vitro activity of F-5 gel used in the Protectaid contraceptive sponge against various Chlamydia trachomatis serotypes.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

In-vitro activity of F-5 gel used in the Protectaid contraceptive sponge against various Chlamydia trachomatis serotypes.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:16 (abstract no. We.A.511)
Brady CS, Sauriol C, Colin P; Axcan Ltd, Mont-St-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. Fax: (514) 467-2984.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of F-5 spermicidal gel (0.125% w/w of nonoxynol-9 and benzalkonium chloride, and 0.5% of sodium cholate), used in the new Protectaid contraceptive sponge, against Chlamydia trachomatis serotypes D, E, G, H,I, J and K, using a co-treatment assay.

METHODS: The C. trachomatis serotypes used in this study were obtained from the American type Culture Collection, Rockville, MD. Each suspension of each C. trachomatis serotype was mixed with an equal volume of a 1/250 dilution of the F-5 gel and a 0.2 mL aliquot was inoculated onto a McCoy cell culture in quadruplicate. The vials were centrifugated to enhance Chlamydia adsorption and placed in an incubator for 45 minutes. Finally, 0.8 mL of a 1/500 dilution of F-5 gel was added to the test vials. Both the 1/250 and 1/500 dilutions of F-5 gel were prepared using Eagles Minimal Essential Medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) heat inactivated fetal bovine serum and 10 micrograms/mL gentamicin. The cultures were again incubated at 35-37 degrees C in 5-7% CO2 for 48 hours, then assayed for Chlamydia recovery, by microscopic examination followed by a fluorescent antibody assay. A positive control was performed for each serotype tested.

RESULTS: Previous experiments had showed that when F-5 gel was used at 1/10 or 1/100 dilution, cytotoxicity of the indicator cell cultures occurred, impairing the determination on a true chlamydicidal effect. In this study, using a 1/500 dilution, no cytotoxicity was observed. The virus challenge (input control) for each serotype was approximately 105-5 TCID50/0.2 mL. The positive controls for each serotype demonstrated infectivity in each of the four replicates cultured. No infectivity was detected in the Chlamydia/F-5 gel mixture.

CONCLUSION: Under the test conditions described above, the F-5 gel was effective inhibiting the growth of Chlamydia trachomatis, serotypes D, E, G, H, I, J and K. Since this spermicidal gel is used in the new Protectaid contraceptive sponge, its in vitro chlamydicidal effects suggest that the sponge may prevent the transmission of this prevalent STD.

Keywords: AEGIS, Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia Infections, Contraceptive Devices, Female, Nonoxynol, Gels, Chlamydia, Spermatocidal Agents, Serotyping, Contraception, Benzalkonium Compounds, Adsorption, Animal, Cattle, In Vitro, utilization, ICA11

960707
WeA511