Medical Diagnosis Exams

Chlamydiaceae species are gram-negative, small, nonmotile, obligate intracellular organisms that grow in the cytoplasm of host cells. The Chlamydiaceae family currently includes two genera of clinical importance, Chlamydia, which includes Chlamydia trachomatis, and Chlamydophila, which includes Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Chlamydophila psittaci.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae (it was known as the Taiwan acute respiratory agent (TWAR) or Chlamydia pneumoniae) causes pneumonia in humans. Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a primary pathogen of humans, is spread from human to human, and apparently has no animal or bird host. Chlamydophila pneumoniae is responsible for approximately 10% of pneumonia cases.

Serology tests are used for the clinical diagnosis of chlamydial infections.