Which serovar grouping of Chlamydia trachomatis is correctly matched with the disease it produces?

• A Serovars L1, L2, L3 cause endemic trachoma
• B Serovars A, B, Ba, C cause lymphogranuloma venereum
• C Serovars A through K all cause genital tract disease only
• D Serovars D through K cause urethritis, cervicitis, neonatal conjunctivitis, and pneumonia ✓

Explanation

Chlamydia trachomatis biovars map to disease: serovars A, B, Ba, and D infect conjunctival epithelium and cause endemic blinding trachoma; serovars C through K are the oculogenital biovar responsible for adult inclusion conjunctivitis, urethritis, cervicitis, epididymitis, neonatal conjunctivitis, and chlamydial pneumonia of infancy; serovars L1, L2, and L3 invade lymphoid tissue and cause lymphogranuloma venereum with buboes. Serovar matching is repeatedly tested and the L-biovar association with invasive, ulcerative genital disease with suppurative nodes is the key discriminator.

Reference: Jawetz, Melnick & Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, 28th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.