Chlamydia trachomatis, an organism responsible for the most prevalent STD in the United States, is one of four
bacterial species in the
genus Chlamydia.
C. trachomatis is a
gram-negative bacterium. It is ovoid in shape and non- motile. The bacteria are non spore forming but the elementary bodies act as a spore when released into the host. The inclusion bodies of
Chlamydia trachomatis were first described in 1942; the
Chlamydia trachomatis agent was first cultured in the yolk sacs of eggs by Professor
Tang Fei-fan et al in 1957.