Chlamydia trachomatis

microorganism

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agents of infectious disease

  • Viral disease researchers Hilary Koprowski and Herald R. Cox
    In infectious disease: Chlamydial organisms

    …are caused by the species C. trachomatis, which is a frequent cause of genital infections in women. If an infant passes through an infected birth canal, it can produce disease of the eye (conjunctivitis) and pneumonia in the newborn. Young children sometimes develop ear infections, laryngitis, and upper respiratory tract…

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conjunctivitis

  • conjunctivitis
    In conjunctivitis

    The microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for trachoma, a disease in which the conjunctiva and cornea can become scarred, leading to blindness. Trachoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the world and is especially prevalent in the Middle East, Asia, and parts of Africa. Inclusion…

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lymphogranuloma venereum

  • lymphogranuloma venereum
    In lymphogranuloma venereum

    …lymph nodes by the microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis. Like chlamydia, which is also a disease caused by C. trachomatis, lymphogranuloma venereum is usually sexually transmitted. The disease produces swollen lymph nodes, ulcerations, enlargement of genital organs, and rectal stricture. Lymphogranuloma venereum occurs throughout most of the world, especially in tropical and…

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  • Treponema pallidum
    In sexually transmitted disease: Chancroid and granuloma

    Lymphogranuloma venereum is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and begins with a frequently unnoticed bump on the genitals. Later, lymph glands in the groin enlarge and may proceed to rupture and drain purulent material. Swelling of the genitals may develop much later.

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sexually transmitted diseases

  • chlamydia; sexually transmitted disease
    In Chlamydia

    psittaci, which causes psittacosis; Chlamydia trachomatis, various strains of which cause chlamydia, trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, and conjunctivitis; and C. pneumoniae, which causes respiratory-tract infections.

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  • Treponema pallidum
    In sexually transmitted disease: Chlamydia

    …caused by an infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. The latter bacterium is also the infecting agent in pelvic inflammatory disease and in still another sexually transmitted disease, lymphogranuloma venereum. The cause for the remaining 50 percent of nongonococcal urethral infections is not known; no organism has been definitely related.

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  • In human sexual activity: Common sexually transmitted organisms

    The parasite Chlamydia trachomatis causes a variety of disorders—in women, urethritis, cervicitis, and salpingitis (inflammation of the ureter, cervix, and fallopian tubes, respectively) and, in men, nongonococcal urethritis. Sexually transmitted viral agents include human

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trachoma

  • In trachoma

    …of the eye caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium-like microorganism that grows only within tissue cells of the infected host. Trachoma occurs especially under conditions of poverty, overpopulation, or poor sanitation and is often complicated by other eye infections of bacterial origin. Left untreated, it can result in irreversible blindness…

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  • LASIK
    In eye disease: Trachoma

    …intracellular bacterial organism known as Chlamydia trachomatis. The disease is contagious and thrives where populations are crowded together in poor hygienic surroundings. Shortage of water for washing and the myriads of flies attracted to human waste aid the dissemination of the disease. In some ways trachoma is more of a…

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lymphogranuloma venereum

pathology
Also known as: Nicolas-Favre disease, climatic bubo, lymphogranuloma inguinale
Also called:
lymphogranuloma inguinale or Nicolas-Favre disease

lymphogranuloma venereum, infection of lymph vessels and lymph nodes by the microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis. Like chlamydia, which is also a disease caused by C. trachomatis, lymphogranuloma venereum is usually sexually transmitted. The disease produces swollen lymph nodes, ulcerations, enlargement of genital organs, and rectal stricture. Lymphogranuloma venereum occurs throughout most of the world, especially in tropical and subtropical areas.

The primary lesion, usually on the genitalia, appears from 3 to 21 days after infection. The lesion is often so transitory as to escape notice, and the first noticeable manifestation of the disease may be a hot, tender swelling of lymph nodes (buboes) in the groin, appearing from 10 to 30 days after exposure. Fever, chills, headache, and joint pains may be present. Abscess formation with drainage of pus from the inguinal lymph nodes is common. Later manifestations of the disease include secondary ulceration and elephantiasis (enlargement) of the genitalia in men, polyps around the anus, inflammation, ulceration, and stricture of the rectum, and, in rare cases, arthritis, conjunctivitis, and nervous system involvement. The course of the disease varies from asymptomatic infection to extreme debilitation. Treatment is with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
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