Phylum
Chlamydiae
Formerly grouped with the Rickettsia , these
non-motile obligate parasites of birds and mammals are now assigned a separate
phylum comprising only five genera, of which Chlamydia is the most important. Like the Rickettsia, members of
the Chlamydiae have extremely small cells, and very limited metabolic
capacities, and depend on the host cell for energy generation. Unlike that
group, however, they are not dependent on an arthropod vector for transmission
from host to host.
Chlamydia
trachomatis is the causative agent of trachoma, a major cause of
blindnessin humans. Different strains of this same species are responsible for
one of the most common forms of sexually transmitted disease. C. psittaci causes the avian disease
psittacosis, and C. pneumoniae causes chlamydial pneumonia
in humans as well as being linked to some cases of coronary artery disease.
Representative genus: Chlamydia
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