Effect of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection on Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

We have previously demonstrated that Chlamydia pneumoniae accelerates plaque formation in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(−/−)) mice following intranasal inoculations. In this study, we evaluated the effect of respiratory tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis on the progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE(−/−) mice. The study showed that in contrast to infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae, infection of the lung and aorta with C. trachomatis was mild and transient and did not significantly accelerate plaque development.