Three New Immunologic Types of Trachoma-Inclusion Conjunctivities Organisms

Trachoma-inclusion conjunctivitis (TRIC) and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) organisms are closely related. Utilizing protection of mice from toxic death by prior immunization and more recently an indirect micro immunofluorescence technique, we have described six immunologic types, A through F, of TRIC organisms and three types of LGV. This report describes three new types of TRIC organisms, G, H and I. While H and I are almost completely unique immunologically, type G has cross-reactions with type F and appears to be an immunologic bridge between the previously unique F type and the B-, Ba-, D-, E- and LGV-related types. Strains of the three new types have been isolated almost entirely from the genital tract and biologically resemble the TRIC types D, E and F which have also been associated primarily with genital infection.