Chlamydia/Mycoplasma

Dr Z.L Tanko
Department of Medical Microbiology
College of Medicine
Kaduna State University
Introduction
• Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens.
• C. trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted
infection, and the leading infectious cause of blindness.
• C. pneumoniae is an important cause of community acquired
pneumonia.
• Chlamydial infections are frequently asymptomatic.
• Serious sequelae of chlamydial infection (blindness, pelvic
inflammatory disease, infertility) are caused by immune response-
driven scarring and fibrosis.

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Taxonomy
• KINGDOM: Bacteria
• PHYLUM: Chlamydiae
• CLASS: Chlamydiia
• ORDER: Chlamydiales
• FAMILY: Chlamidiaceae
• GENERA: Chlamydia
• SPECIES: C. trachomatis, C. pneumonae, C. psittaci

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Species
• C. trachomatis
• Urogenital infection
• Trachoma
• Lymphogranuloma venerium (LGV)
• Conjunctivitis
• C. psittaci
• Pneumonia
• C. pneumoniae
• Pneumonia

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General characteristics
• Small obligate intracellular bacteria
• Lack cell wall
• Has 2 forms
• Elementary body
• Reticulate body
• Also has inclusion bodies
• Cannot be cultured on routine media; cell culture.

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Pathophysiology
• The bacterium is transmitted through direct contact with infected
tissue, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and can even be passed
from an infected mother to the new-born during childbirth.
• The organism has two developmental forms,
• elementary body (EB) and the reticulate body (RB)
• The EB is metabolically inactive and is taken up by host cells.
• Within the host cell, the EB will differentiate into the metabolically
active RB.
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Pathophysiology
• The RB will then use host energy sources and amino acids to
replicate and form new EB, which can then infect additional cells.
• C. trachomatis targets the squamocolumnar epithelial cells of the
endocervix and upper genital tract in women, and the conjunctiva,
urethra, and rectum in both men and women.

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Chlamydia trachomatis
• Has 15 serotypes
• A, B, Ba C; Trachoma
• D – K; Urogenital infection
• L1, L2, L3; LGV

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Trachoma
• Caused by C. trachomatis serotypes A, B C
• One of the leading causes of blindness.
• It spreads through contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an
infected person, or through contact with contaminated objects such
as towels or clothing.
• Common in children
• Poor sanitation, inadequate acces to clean water, shared makeup
are risk of the infection.

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Trachoma
• Symptoms of trachoma include
• Eye discharge, itching, irritation, and sensitivity to light.
• If left untreated, trachoma can lead to irreversible blindness.
• Treatment
• Tetracycline eye drops/ointment
• Azithromycin
• Surgery

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Non gonococcal urethritis
• Caused by D- K serovars
• It's a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) mainly caused by
bacteria such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium.
• Patients present with urethral discharge, pain or burning sensation
during urination and urgency.
• In males
• Proctitis, epididymitis and conjunctivitis.
• In females
• Cervicitis, salphigitis, PID

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lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)
• It’s a sexually transmitted infection
• Caused by serovars L1-L3 of Chlamydia trachomatis.
• Presents with genital ulcer and lyphadenopathy.
• Treatment
• Doxycyline
• Azithromycin
• Erythromycin

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Chlamydia psittacci
• Transmitted via aerosols from bird droppings
• Causes psittacosis
• Primarily a disease of birds
• People who work with birds, such as pet shop workers, poultry
farmers, and veterinarians, are at higher risk of exposure
• Cough, fever, respiratory symptoms
• Treatment
• Tetracycline
• Doxycycline
• Azithromycin

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Chlamydia pneumoniae
• Transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions.
• Causes atypical pneumonia
• Most infections with Chlamydia pneumoniae are mild and may go
unnoticed.
• Cough, fever, sore throat, malaise
• Treatment
• Azithromycin
• Doxycycline

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Disease Species/Serovars

Trachoma C. trachomatis (A,B, Ba, C)

Non gonococal urethritis, cervicitis, salphingitis, C. trachomatis (D-K)

Lymphogranuloma venerum C. trachomatis (L1-L3)

Ophthalmia neonatorum C. trachomatis (D-K)

Neonatal pneumonia C. trachomatis (D-K)

Psittacosis C. psittaci
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• Causes respiratory tract infection; atypical pneumonia
• Mycoplasma pneumonia is often referred to as "walking pneumonia”.
• Frequent cause URTI
• Common in children and young adults.
• Transmission is via respiratory droplets.
• Treatment
• Azithromycin
• Doxycycline

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Mycoplasma genitalium
• Also an STI
• It primarily affects the urethra in men and the cervix and urethra in
women.
• Usually asymptomatic
• Causes urethritis, cervicitis and PID.

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Laboratory diagnosis
• Specimens
• Eye swabs
• Endocervical swab
• Throat swab
• Sputum
• Serology
• Antigen detection
• Molecular

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Prevention and control
• Safe sex practices
• Contact tracing and treatment of partners
• Regular screenig in high risk individuals.
• Good respiratory hygiene
• Hand hygiene
• Wearing protective clothing and masks when handling birds
• Regular veterinary check-ups and appropriate antibiotic treatment of
infected birds

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 Thank you
for listening

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