Chlamydophila pneumoniae

Chlamydia pneumoniae (also suggested as Chlamydophila pneumoniae) is a species of chlamydiae bacteria that infects humans and is a major cause of pneumonia. Chlamydia pneumoniae has a complex life cycle and must infect another cell in order to reproduce and thus is classified as an obligate intracellular pathogen. In addition to its role in pneumonia, there is evidence associating Chlamydia pneumoniae with atherosclerosis and with asthma. The full genome sequence for Chlamydia pneumoniae was published in 1999.

Chlamydia pneumoniae also infects and causes disease in Koalas, emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus), iguanas, chameleons, frogs, and turtles.

Life cycle and method of infection
Chlamydia pneumoniae is a small bacterium (0.2 to 1 micrometer) that undergoes several transformations during its life cycle. It exists as an elementary body (EB) in between hosts. The EB is not biologically active but is resistant to environmental stresses and can survive outside of a host for a limited time. The EB travels from an infected person to the lungs of a non-infected person in small droplets and is responsible for infection. Once in the lungs, the EB is taken up by cells in a pouch called an endosome by a process called phagocytosis. However, the EB is not destroyed by fusion with lysosomes as is typical for phagocytosed material. Instead, it transforms into a reticulate body and begins to replicate within the endosome. The reticulate bodies must utilize some of the host's cellular machinery to complete its replication. The reticulate bodies then convert back to elementary bodies and are released back into the lung, often after causing the death of the host cell. The EBs are thereafter able to infect new cells, either in the same organism or in a new host. Thus, the life cycle of Chlamydia pneumoniae is divided between the elementary body which is able to infect new hosts but can not replicate and the reticulate body which replicates but is not able to cause new infection.

Pneumonia caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia around the world. Chlamydia pneumoniae is typically acquired by otherwise healthy people and is a form of community-acquired pneumonia. Because treatment and diagnosis are different from historically recognized causes such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, pneumonia caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae is categorized as an "atypical pneumonia."

Symptoms and diagnosis
Symptoms of infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae are indistinguishable from other causes of pneumonia. These include cough, fever, and difficulties breathing. Chlamydia pneumoniae more often causes pharyngitis, laryngitis, and sinusitis than other causes of pneumonia; however, because many other causes of pneumonia results in these symptoms, differentiation is not possible. Likewise, a physical examination by a health provider does not typically provide information which allows for a definite diagnosis.

Diagnosis of Chlamydia pneumoniae may be confounded by prior infections with this microorganism. Examination of sputum or the secretions of the respiratory tract may reveal signs of the bacteria. Otherwise, examination of the blood may reveal antibodies against the bacteria. If there has been a prior infection, this may have resulting in pre-existing antibodies. Therefore, interpretation may require a period of six weeks in order to reanalyze the antibodies and to determine whether the infection was new or old. Examination of the blood may also show proteins (antigens) from Chlamydia pneumoniae, either through direct fluorescent antibody testing, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), or polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Chest x-rays of lungs infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae often show a small patch of increased shadow (opacity). However, many different patterns are common and there is no appearance which allows for a specific diagnosis.

Treatment and prognosis
Typically, treatment for pneumonia is begun before the causative microorganism is identified. This empiric therapy includes an antibiotic active against the atypical bacteria, including Chlamydia pneumoniae. The most common type of antibiotic used is a macrolide such as azithromycin or clarithromycin. If testing reveals that Chlamydia pneumoniae is the causative agent, therapy may be switched to doxycycline, which is slightly more effective against the bacteria. Sometimes a quinolone antibiotic such as levofloxacin may be started empirically. This group is not as effective against Chlamydia pneumoniae. Treatment is typically continued for ten to fourteen days for known infections.

Prognosis of pneumonia caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae is excellent. Hospitalization is uncommon, complications are rare, and most people have no residual deficits. In fact, Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common cause of walking pneumonia, so named because most people are able to continue to walk and participate in reduced activity during infection.

Epidemiology and prevention
Chlamydia pneumoniae affects all age groups and is most common among the 60-79 year old age group. Reinfection is common after a short period of immunity. The incidence is one case out of one thousand per year and causes ten percent of community-acquired pneumonias treated without hospitalization. As of 2005, there are no vaccines or other ways to prevent infection other than good hygiene and healthy eating as well as active lifestyle some people with obesity face the same symptoms, a stress free life as well as active and conscious living are the best viral and physical prevention known.

Other illnesses caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae
In addition to pneumonia, Chlamydia pneumoniae less commonly causes several other illnesses. Among these are meningoencephalitis (infection and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), arthritis, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), and Guillain-Barré syndrome (inflammation of the nerves). It has also been associated with dozens of other conditions, such as Alzheimer's, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Prostatitis, and many others.

Links between Chlamydia pneumoniae and chronic inflammatory diseases
In addition to acute infections already covered, Chlamydia pneumoniae has been implicated in several chronic diseases. There is evidence that the onset of asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs, is associated with infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae. Some patients have had amazing recoveries from lifelong asthma as the result of being prescribed anti-chlamydial antibiotics. However, not all asthma results from infection with chlamydia pneumoniae, and research is ongoing.

Links between infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae heart attacks (myocardial infarction) and atherosclerosis have also been found (Blasi, F et al. 1996). In fact, Chlamydia pneumoniae has been found within plaques in the walls of coronary arteries supplying the heart (Ramirez, J et al. 1996; Jackson, L. A., et al. 1997). Antibody levels against Chlamydia pneumoniae are also higher in people with heart problems (Danesh, J., et al. 1997). As of 2005, short-term prescription of anti-chlamydial antibiotics has not been shown to decrease incidence of myocardial infarction.

Such treatment is experimental, although research from Vanderbilt as early as the mid 1990s found that chlamydophila pneumoniae had a role in many chronic inflammatory diseases and that multi-antibiotic protocols could be helpful, or even 'cure' some individuals with conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Chlamydia pneumoniae has also been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of some patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a controversial finding, but pilot data suggests that antibiotic treatment of MS results in improvements, sometimes dramatic, in such cases. A range of other inflammatory conditions are hypothesized to be linked with infection with chlamydial pneumonaie, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, intercystial cystitis and prostatitis, as well as many others.