Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT)

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of four bacterial species in the genus Chlamydia. Chlamydia is a genus of pathogenic bacteria that are obligate intracellular parasites. C. trachomatis is a weakly Gram-negative bacterium. It is ovoid in shape and nonmotile. The bacteria are non spore-forming, but the elementary bodies act like spores when released into the host. Clinical signs and symptoms of C. trachomatis infection and gonorrhea infection are indistinguishable. Both are common causes of urethritis. C. trachomatis is the single most important infectious agent associated with blindness (trachoma); about 84 million worldwide suffer C. trachomatis eye infections and 8 million are blinded as a result of the infection.