Abstract
Chlamydiae are gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacteria with a unique developmental cycle, consisting of the elementary body (EB), the condensed infectious form, and the reticulate body (RB), the larger replicating form. They infect a broad range of species, including humans, and are widespread in nature. Chlamydiae cause economically important diseases in farm animals, including ocular, pulmonary, genital, articular, and intestinal infections; these are often persistent, chronic, or subclinical, and are difficult to diagnose and treat. Chlamydiae depend on host cells for multiplication.
Pospischil, A