title: Chlamydia-like bacteria in respiratory samples of community-acquired pneumonia patients.
abstract: Chlamydia-like bacteria, obligate intracellular relatives of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydophila pneumoniae, are widely distributed in nature. Using a two-step nested and semi-nested PCR approach targeting the 16S rRNA gene, we found DNA of Chlamydia-like bacteria in respiratory samples from patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Of 387 cases tested, four (1.03%) tested positive if only sequences showing less than 99.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to known Chlamydiae were considered. These included for the first time Protochlamydia amoebophila, Waddlia chondrophila, and 'Candidatus Rhabdochlamydia porcellionis'-related sequences. This study extends previous findings suggesting an association of Chlamydia-like bacteria with respiratory disease, but a causal link between these microorganisms and respiratory tract infections has yet to be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collingro
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walochnik
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S