Chlamydia

During recent decades, it has been firmly documented that chlamydiae are com­ mon and important pathogens in humans and animals. In humans, chlamydiae are known to cause trachoma (which is still one of the major blinding diseases in the world) and are also one of the most common etiological agents of sexually transmitted diseases and the sequelae thereof, such as infertility. In the last few years, it has also become evident that chlamydiae, i.e., the so-called TWAR agents, are common respiratory tract pathogens. Chlamydiae are also important pathogens in birds and lower mammals, in whom they cause a variety of infectious conditions, a spectrum which has in­ creased every year. Some of these infections occur as zoonoses, e.g., psit­ tacosis/ornithosis and, as recently discovered, abortion. Know ledge of the molecular biology and immunobiology of chlamydiae has expanded rapidly during recent years. Insight into the pathophysiology of chla­ mydial infections has also increased, and new methods for the diagnosis of chlamydial infections have been introduced. The importance of establishing control and preventive programs for chla­ mydial infections has become obvious in order to combat the present chlamydial epidemic. We hope that this book can usefully serve those who want to increase their general knowledge of Chlamydia and that it can act as a handbook and reference source for those involved in chlamydial research as well as for those working with chlamydial infections in medical and veterinary clinical disciplines, includ­ ing clinical laboratories. Front Matter....Pages i-xix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 A Historical Outline....Pages 3-12 Front Matter....Pages 13-13 The Chlamydiae....Pages 15-28 Pathology of Chlamydial Infections....Pages 29-45 Immune Response....Pages 47-55 Animal Models....Pages 57-67 Front Matter....Pages 69-69 Diagnosis of Chlamydial Infections....Pages 71-99 Front Matter....Pages 101-101 Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing....Pages 103-105 Susceptibility of Chlamydiae to Different Antimicrobials....Pages 107-114 Body Fluid Constituents with Antichlamydial Activity....Pages 115-116 Persistence, Relapses, and Reinfections of Chlamydial Infections....Pages 117-119 Vaccines....Pages 121-123 Front Matter....Pages 125-125 Trachoma....Pages 127-136 Genital and Associated Infections in the Male....Pages 137-150 Genital Tract and Associated Infections in the Female....Pages 151-180 Infertility....Pages 181-185 Periappendicitis....Pages 187-188 Peritonitis and Perihepatitis....Pages 189-193 Adverse Pregnancy Outcome....Pages 195-197 Postpartum Endometritis....Pages 199-200 Tubal (Ectopic) Pregnancy....Pages 201-202 Front Matter....Pages 125-125 Contraceptive Use and Infection by Chlamydia trachomatis ....Pages 203-206 Concomitant Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis , Neisseria gonorrhoeae , and Other Genital Pathogens, and Treatment of Mixed Infections....Pages 207-209 Reiter’s Syndrome....Pages 211-214 Lymphogranuloma Venereum....Pages 215-220 Neonatal Infections....Pages 221-232 Infections in Childhood....Pages 233-235 Chlamydial Infections in Adolescence....Pages 237-239 Sexual Abuse of Children....Pages 241-242 Ocular Nontrachoma Infections in Adults....Pages 243-246 Chlamydia trachomatis Respiratory Tract Infections in Adults....Pages 247-248 Disseminated Infections with Chlamydia trachomatis ....Pages 249-249 Prevention and Control of Genital Chlamydial Infections....Pages 251-260 Front Matter....Pages 261-261 Chlamydia psittaci Infections in Humans....Pages 263-267 Chlamydia psittaci Infection in Birds....Pages 269-270 Chlamydia psittaci Infection in Mammals....Pages 271-275 TWAR Infections....Pages 277-281 Back Matter....Pages 283-370