As human pathogens, the organism of C. trachomatis cause a number of diseases. Primarily these are diseases of the eye (trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis) and of the urogenital tract (lymphogranuloma venerum(LGV), urethritis, and cervicititis). The Chlamydiae are non motile, gram negative organisms that sharing a similar morphology, and a common group antigen. They go through a unique developmental cycle within the cytoplasm of their host´s cells. The Chlamydiae are prokaryotic obligate parasites of eukaryotic cells. Chlamydiae have two morphological forms- elementary body(EB) and the reticulate body (RB).
We studied the ultrastructure of Chlamydlia trachomatis in the rabbit´s conjunctiva using electron microscope (Hitachi H-600).The segments of conjunctiva were cultured in the Eaglis modified essensial medium containing 10% fetal calf serum before inoculation of elementary bodies.
The results were as follows;
1. The purified elementary body was uniformly spherical particle containing electron-
dense material and covered with two lamellated membranes of about 0.3p diameter.
2. After 12 hrs of infection, elementary bodies were phagocytosed by endocytosis.
The elementary body was enclosed by a vacuole made from the cell membrane.
3. After- 24hrs of infection, elementary bodies were changing to reticulate bodies which
began to undergo binary fission.
4. After 48hrs of infection, there were complete changes from elementary bodies to
reticulate bodies and numerous glycogen particles in the cytoplasm of cell.
5. After 72hrs of infection, there were complete change of reticulate bodies to elemen-
tary bodies and increased number and size of vesicles in cytoplasm of cell.
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