Chlamydia

Synonyms

Chronic follicular conjunctivitis; Inclusion conjunctivitis; Trachoma

Definition

As an obligate intracellular bacterium and the most common cause of infectious blindness worldwide, the Chlamydia genus is comprised of C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae, C. psittaci, and C. trachomatis, responsible for the majority of ocular chlamydial infections, and is further classified into three biovars, ocular (A-C), genital (D-K), and and lymphogranuloma venereum (L1-3), although all immunotypes may cause ocular symptoms. Clinical presentation with trachomatous infection includes a follicular conjunctivitis with conjunctival injection, irritation, and discharge. Characteristic features of trachoma include Herbert’s pits, localized depressions following necrosis of limbal follicles; Arlt’s line, linear scarring of the upper tarsus; trichiasis, which occurs in late stages of disease; and subsequent secondary corneal opacification. Treatment with tetracyclines or macrolide antibiotics can...