Chlamydiaceae

Chlamydiaceae is a family of bacteria that belongs to the Phylum Chlamydiae, Order Chlamydiales. All Chlamydiaceae species are gram negative and express the family-specific lipopolysaccharide epitope αKdo-(2→8)-αKdo-(2→4)-αKdo (previously called the genus-specific epitope). Chlamydiaceae ribosomal RNA genes all have at least 90% DNA sequence identity. Chlamydiaceae species have varying inclusion morphology, varying extrachromosomal plasmid content, and varying sulfadiazine resistance.

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Chlamydiaceae currently includes two genera: Chlamydia and Chlamydophila. Three species belong to Chlamydia: Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia muridarum, and Chlamydia suis. C. trachomatis has been found only in humans, C. muridarum in hamsters and mice (family Muridae), and C. suis in swine. Chlamydia spp. produce a small amount of detectable glycogen and have two ribosomal operons.

Six species belong to Chlamydophila: Chlamydophila pneumoniae (often also called Chlamydia pneumoniae), Chlamydophila pecorum, Chlamydophila psittaci, Chlamydophila abortus, Chlamydophila caviae, and Chlamydophila felis. Chlamydophila spp. do not produce detectable glycogen and have one ribosomal operon. These species are naturally found living in a variety of animals.