Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis
C. trachomatis inclusion bodies (brown) in a McCoy cell culture.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria Phylum: Chlamydiae Order: Chlamydiales Family: Chlamydiaceae Genus: Chlamydia Species: C. trachomatis
Binomial name
Chlamydia trachomatis Busacca, 1935

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of three bacterial species in the genus Chlamydia, family Chlamydiaceae, class Chlamydiae, phylum Chlamydiae, domain Bacteria. C. trachomatis is a gram-negative bacteria that has only been found living inside the cells of humans, causing the following conditions:

In men

• Prostatitis
• Epididymitis

In women

• Cervicitis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Premature birth
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Pelvic pain, chronic or acute
• Newborn eye (trachoma) or lung infection

In both sexes

• Urethritis
• Infertility
• Proctitis (rectal disease and bleeding)
• Reactive arthritis
• Trachoma

C. trachomatis has also been detected in some patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease. It may be treated with any of several antibiotics: azithromycin, erythromycin or doxycycline/tetracycline.

C. trachomatis was the first chlamydial agent discovered in humans. It comprises two human biovars: trachoma and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Many, but not all, C. trachomatis strains have an extrachromosomal plasmid. Chlamydia species are readily identified and distinguished from other chlamydial species using DNA-based tests. Most strains of C. trachomatis are recognized by monoclonal antibodies [mAbs] to epitopes in the VS4 region of MOMP. However, these mAbs may also crossreact with the other two Chlamydia species, Chlamydia suis and Chlamydia muridarum.

External links

• Chlamydiae.com [1]
• 342556674 at GPnotebook
• article at reuters.com

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