Chapter 217 Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Etiology
Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular pathogens that have established a unique niche in host cells. Chlamydiae cause a variety of diseases in animal species at virtually all phylogenic levels. The most significant human pathogens are C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis (Chapter 218). C. psittaci is the cause of psittacosis, an important zoonosis (Chapter 219).