Tric Type K, a New Immunologic Type of Chlamydia Trachomatis

Abstract

Twelve Chlamydia trachomatis strains have been isolated from cervical and urethral swabs in a venereal disease study in Seattle that are identical immunologically in the micro-immunofluorescence-(micro-IF) typing test. These strains are closely related immunologically with the LGV type-L3 but easily separable from the other 12 TRIC and LGV types. Cross-absorption removed micro-IF heterologous antibody between the new strains and L3. A series of studies of biologic characteristics (infection of cell culture, mouse brain, and monkey eye) showed clearly that the new strains were not LGV but were similar to other TRIC strains. It is proposed that a new immunologic type be established—TRIC type-K.