chlamydia
/kləˈmɪdɪə
/noun (plural same or chlamydiae /kləˈmɪdɪiː/)
A very small parasitic bacterium which, like a virus, requires the biochemical mechanisms of another cell in order to reproduce. Bacteria of this type cause various diseases including trachoma, psittacosis, and non-specific urethritis.
- Genus Chlamydia and order Chlamydiales.
- Several other organisms such as mycoplasma or chlamydia also can cause pneumonia.
- Because chlamydiae are bacteria, antibiotics can thwart the infections they produce.
Derivatives
chlamydial
- In addition to the usual common cold viruses, chlamydial pneumonia and herpes simplex virus infections may play a role in exacerbations of bronchospasm in patients with and without asthma.
- The evidence is inconclusive, however, about whether condoms can prevent genital herpes, syphilis, chancroids, chlamydial infection, trichomoniasis, or gonorrhea (in women).
- The patient's medical history was notable for multiple unusual infections, including balanitis, chlamydial conjunctivitis, multiple episodes of pneumonia, and upper respiratory tract infections.
Origin
1960s: modern Latin (plural), from Greek khlamus, khlamud- 'cloak'.