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 has only been found living inside the cells of humans, causing the following conditions:

In men

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

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.

Treatment

Chlaymydial infections ^[1]

Chlamydial Infections in Adolescents and Adults

Preferred regimen : Doxycycline 100 mg PO bid for 7 days OR Azithromycin 1 g PO in a single dose
Alternative regimen (1): Erythromycin base 500 mg PO qid for 7 days OR Erythromycin ethylsuccinate 800 mg PO qid for 7 days
Alternative regimen (2): Levofloxacin 500 mg PO qd for 7 days OR Ofloxacin 300 mg PO bid for 7 days.

Pregancy

Preferred regimen :Azithromycin 1 g PO in a single dose
Alternative regimen (1):Amoxicillin 500 mg PO tid for 7 days
Alternative regimen (2):Erythromycin base 500 mg PO qid for 7 days OR Erythromycinbase 250 mg PO qid for 14 days
Alternative regimen (3):Erythromycin ethylsuccinate 800 mg PO qid for 7 days OR Erythromycin ethylsuccinate 400 mg PO four qid for 14days

Chlamydial infection among neonates
Ophthalmia Neonatorum

Preferred regimen :Erythromycin base or ethylsuccinate ,PO 50 mg/kg/ day divided into 4 doses daily for 14 days
Alternative regimen : Azithromycin suspension, PO 20 mg/kg /day qd for 3 days

Infant Pneumonia

Preferred regimen :Erythromycin base or ethylsuccinate PO 50 mg/kg/ day divided into 4 doses daily for 14 days
Alternative regimen : Azithromycin suspension, PO 20 mg/kg /day qd for 3 days

::* Chlamydial infection among infants and childern

Infants and childern who weigh < 45 kg

Preferred regimen :Erythromycin base or ethylsuccinate PO 50 mg/kg/ day divided into 4 doses daily for 14 days

Infants and childern who weigh >45 kg but who are aged <8 years

Preferred regimen :Azithromycin 1 g PO in a single dose

Infants and childern aged >8 years

Preferred regimen :Azithromycin 1 g PO in a single dose OR Doxycycline 100 mg PO bid for 7 days

Gallery

Photomicrograph of Chlamydia trachomatis taken from a urethral scrape. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
McCoy cell monolayers with Chlamydia trachomatis inclusion bodies (200X mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
McCoy cell monolayers with Chlamydia trachomatis inclusion bodies (50X mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Photomicrograph depicts HeLa cells infected with Type-A Chlamydia trachomatis (400X mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Patient’s left eye with the upper lid retracted in order to reveal the inflamed conjunctival membrane lining the inside of both the upper and lower lids, due to what was determined to be a case of inclusion conjunctivitis caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]