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.

Psittacosis (parrot fever, ornithosis) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by Chlamydophila psittaci and is characterised by pneumonia, headache, altered mentation, and hepatosplenomegaly. Psittacosis is acquired by airborne transmission from infected birds.

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