Chlamydia and the Gastrointestinal System

Abstract

Chlamydiae are intracellular, gram-negative, and prokaryotic microorganisms. Capable of causing disease in many mammalian and avian species, there are three types that cause disease in humans: Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia psittaci. Among the chlamydia species, C. trachomatis is the most studied and encountered type because it is a leading cause of trachoma and sexually transmitted diseases. C. trachomatis, a known pathogen of the genital tract, can also be routinely detected in the human gastrointestinal tract. It can infect the enteroendocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract. The best-known manner for C. trachomatis to enter the gastrointestinal tract is through oral and anal sex. Most of them are dormant, without causing any infection in the infected person. Chlamydia proctitis is the most well-known disease caused by C. trachomatis in the gastrointestinal tract. In this section, we evaluated the often-overlooked Chlamydia and the gastrointestinal system findings within the gastroenterology practice, the diseases it causes, and the treatments for these diseases.