Chlamydia pneumoniae acute liver infection affects hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism in mice

•Balb/c mice were challenged with Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) or C. trachomatis (CT).•Only CP, but not CT, was re-cultivated from the livers of inoculated mice.•Only CP infected mice showed increased cholesterol and triglycerides levels.•Hyperlipidemia was due to decreased liver cholesterol and triglycerides catabolism.•The pro-atherogenic role was species-specific for CP.