Chlamydiaceae

Chlamydiaceae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Chlamydiae
Class:	Chlamydiae
Order:	Chlamydiales
Family:	Chlamydiaceae
Genera
Candidatus Clavochlamydia salmonicola♠ Karlsen et al. 2008 Chlamydophila Chlamydia

The Chlamydiaceae are a family of bacteria that belongs to the phylum Chlamydiae, order Chlamydiales. All Chlamydiaceae species are Gram-negative and express the family-specific lipopolysaccharide epitope αKdo-(2→8)-αKdo-(2→4)-αKdo (previously called the genus-specific epitope). Chlamydiaceae ribosomal RNA genes all have at least 90% DNA sequence identity. Chlamydiaceae species have varying inclusion morphology, varying extrachromosomal plasmid content, and varying sulfadiazine resistance.

The Chlamydiaceae family currently includes two genera and one candidate genus: Chlamydia, Chlamydophila, and candidatus Clavochlamydia.

Chlamydia

Main article: Chlamydia (bacterium)

Three species belong to Chlamydia: C. trachomatis, C. muridarum, and C. suis. C. trachomatis has been found only in humans, C. muridarum in hamsters and mice (family Muridae), and C. suis in swine. Chlamydia species produce a small amount of detectable glycogen and have two ribosomal operons.

C. trachomatis is the cause of an infection commonly transmitted sexually (often referred as just "Chlamydia") and also is the cause of trachoma, an infectious eye disease, spread by eye, nose, and throat secretions.

Chlamydophila

Main article: Chlamydophila

Six species belong to Chlamydophila: C. pneumoniae (often also called Chlamydia pneumoniae), C. pecorum, C. psittaci, C. abortus, C. caviae, and C. felis. Chlamydophila species do not produce detectable glycogen and have one ribosomal operon. These species are naturally found living in a variety of animals, where they are known to cause, in some cases, extreme sexual discomfort and mental pain.