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.

C. trachomatis was the first chlamydial agent discovered in humans. It was identified in 1907.^[1]

It comprises two human biovars: trachoma and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV).

Many, but not all,^[2] C. trachomatis strains have an extrachromosomal plasmid.

Clinical significance

It 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 disease (TMJ).

It may be treated with any of several antibiotics: azithromycin, erythromycin or doxycycline/tetracycline.

Identification

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.^[3] However, these mAbs may also crossreact with the other two Chlamydia species, Chlamydia suis and Chlamydia muridarum.

References

1. ^ Budai I (2007). "Chlamydia trachomatis: milestones in clinical and microbiological diagnostics in the last hundred years: a review". Acta microbiologica et immunologica Hungarica 54 (1): 5–22. PMID 17523388.
2. ^ Alexander S, Ison CA (2007). "Is New Variant Chlamydia trachomatis present in England and Wales?". doi:10.1136/sti.2007.026880. PMID 17855488.
3. ^ Ortiz L, Angevine M, Kim SK, Watkins D, DeMars R (2000). "T-cell epitopes in variable segments of Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein elicit serovar-specific immune responses in infected humans". Infect. Immun. 68 (3): 1719–23. PMID 10678996.