The epidemic cycle of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in eastern Finland, 1972-1987.

The epidemic cycle of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection was examined in two areas in eastern Finland over a period of 15 years, 1972-87. The C. pneumoniae IgG antibody prevalence was determined with 5-year intervals in a random sample of the population aged 25-59 years. The total number of sera studied using immunofluorescence was 2387. In 1972 the antibody prevalence was 57% and it increased to 66% in 1977. Over the next 5 years the prevalence decreased to 44% in 1982, but by 1987 it had again increased to 59%. The temporal variation in prevalence was statistically significant (P < 0.001) and similar for both genders. Throughout the observation period the overall prevalence was 7-11% higher in men than in women (P < 0.01). The antibody prevalence increased with age, being the highest among the oldest study subjects of both genders. The periods of high and low prevalence alternated in an epidemic cycle (P < 0.001) of about 10 years.