Chlamydia trachomatis—An Emerging Old Entity?

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis is an evasive pathogen that can prompt severe clinical manifestations in humans such as vaginitis, epididymitis, lymphogranuloma venereum, trachoma, conjunctivitis and pneumonia. If left untreated, chronic infections with C. trachomatis can give rise to long-lasting and even permanent sequelae. To shed some light on its widespread nature, data from original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses from three databases was collected and analyzed in the context of chlamydial infection, related symptoms and appropriate treatment modalities. This review describes the bacterium’s pervasiveness on a global scale, especially in developing countries, and suggests ways to halt its transmission and spread. Infections with C. trachomatis often go unnoticed, as many individuals are asymptomatic and unaware of their diagnosis, contributing to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. The high prevalence of chlamydial infection highlights the need for a universal screening and detection method enabling immediate treatment at its onset. Prognosis is favorable with antibiotic therapy and education for high-risk groups and their sexual partners. In the future, a quick, easily accessible, and inexpensive test should be developed to diagnose and treat infected individuals early on. Along with a vaccine against C. trachomatis, it would halt the transmission and spread of the pathogen worldwide.

Seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and associated risk factors among HIV positive women in North Central Nigeria

“…HIV and C. trachomatis infections share the urogenital tract as a portal of entry and have mutually beneficial effects. When C. trachomatis invades, it causes genital epithelium destruction by an enzymatic activity that makes HIV infection easier [13]. HIV suppresses the immune system by killing CD4+ cells and preventing T-cell activation [14].…”

Advances in Chlamydia trachomatis Vaccination: Unveiling the Potential of Major Outer Membrane Protein Derivative Constructs

“…Other C. trachomatis serovars A–C are causative agents of trachoma, the most common cause of infectious blindness in developing countries. Serovars L1–L3 belong to the lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) biovar, causing invasive urogenital and anorectal infections [ 1 , 3 ]. These are beyond the scope of this review.…”

“…The global prevalence of genital C. trachomatis D–K was estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 to be 4.0% for women and 2.5% for men aged between 15 and 49 years, with 128.5 million new infections occurring worldwide [ 4 ]. However, global screening measures have not yet been implemented, so it must be emphasized that these are approximations [ 3 ]. Prevalences in certain populations have been found to be exceptionally high.…”

“…Urogenital C. trachomatis infection can cause urethritis, cervicitis and salpingitis in women, and urethritis, epididymitis and epididymo-orchitis in men. Non-specific symptoms like abnormal vaginal discharge, intermenstrual bleeding, dysuria and pyuria in women, and dysuria, testicular or pelvic pain in men can develop [ 3 , 8 ]. However, more than 80% of infections are asymptomatic, leading to a high rate of transmission [ 9 ].…”

“…However, more than 80% of infections are asymptomatic, leading to a high rate of transmission [ 9 ]. If the infection in women is left untreated and ascends from the cervix to the upper reproductive tract, severe complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can develop [ 3 ]. Approximately 20% of women infected with genital C. trachomatis develop PID, which can lead to chronic pelvic pain (4%), infertility (3%) and adverse pregnancy outcomes (2%) [ 8 , 10 ].…”