Chlamydiaceae infections in pig.

Chlamydiaceae are Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria. They are responsible for a broad range of diseases in animals and humans. In pigs, Chlamydia suis, Chlamydia abortus, Chlamydia pecorum and Chlamydia psittaci have been isolated. Chlamydiaceae infections in pigs are associated with different pathologies such as conjunctivitis, pneumonia, pericarditis, polyarthritis, polyserositis, pseudo-membranous or necrotizing enteritis, periparturient dysgalactiae syndrome, vaginal discharge, return to oestrus, abortion, mummification, delivery of weak piglets, increased perinatal and neonatal mortality and inferior semen quality, orchitis, epididymitis and urethritis in boars. However, Chlamydiaceae are still considered as non-important pathogens because reports of porcine chlamydiosis are rare. Furthermore, Chlamydiaceae infections are often unnoticed because tests for Chlamydiaceae are not routinely performed in all veterinary diagnostic laboratories and Chlamydiaceae are often found in association with other pathogens, which are sometimes more easily to detect. However, recent studies have demonstrated that Chlamydiaceae infections in breeding sows, boars and piglets occur more often than thought and are economically important. This paper presents an overview on: the taxonomy of Chlamydiaceae occurring in pigs, diagnostic considerations, epidemiology and pathology of infections with Chlamydiaceae in pigs, public health significance and finally on prevention and treatment of Chlamydiaceae infections in pigs.

Introduction of Chlamydia trachomatis screening for young women in Germany.

Screening for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections for young sexually active women was incorporated into routine medical care of German statutory health insured patients starting in January 2008. The primary goal of this new preventive measure is the reduction of severe sequelae for women such as tubal infertility and ectopic pregnancies. The course of the deliberations leading to the Federal Joint Committee's decision is summarized in this review.

DNA vaccination against Chlamydiaceae: current status and perspectives.

DNA vaccination (also called genetic vaccination) recently celebrated its ten years of existence. This new method of immunization presents several advantages, including the induction of both humoral and cellular immune responses. This vaccination strategy has been very successful and has served as a basis for numerous experiments that had the aim of resolving parasitic, viral, and bacterial infections. In particular, DNA vaccination has been evaluated against Chlamydiaceae, small obligate intracellular bacteria, that induce many pathologies in humans and animals. Despite promising protective effects obtained in murine and turkey models with genes encoding outer membrane proteins and heat shock proteins, DNA vaccination against Chlamydiaceae must be optimized by further investigations and could benefit from the genomic sequencing in terms of the identification of new antigens.