Genital mycoplasma & Chlamydia trachomatis infections in treatment naïve HIV-1 infected adults.

Background & objectives: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) enhance the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Thus, screening for STIs is a routine component of primary HIV care. There are limited data for selective screening guidelines for genital mycoplasmas and Chlamydia trachomatis in HIV-infected adults. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of genital infections with Ureaplasma spp., Mycoplasma hominis, M. genitalium and C. trachomatis in treatment naïve asymptomatic HIV-1 - infected adults and study their association with CD4+ T-cell count. Methods: First-void urine samples were collected from 100 treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected adults and 50 healthy volunteers. C. trachomatis and M. genitalium were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ureaplasma spp. and M. hominis were detected by both culture and PCR. Circulating CD4+ cell counts of HIV-1-infected patients were determined from peripheral blood by flow-cytometry. Results: C. trachomatis was detected in 7 per cent of HIV-1-infected adults compared to none in control population. Ureaplasma spp. and M. hominis showed infection rates of 6 and 1 per cent in the HIV group and 2 and 0 per cent in the control group, respectively. None of the individuals from the patient and control groups was tested positive for M. genitalium. A significant association was found between CD4 cell count and detection of C. trachomatis in HIV-infected adults (P = 0.01). Interpretation & conclusions: Screening of HIV-infected individuals for C. trachomatis infection could be recommended as a routine component of HIV care. The role of mycoplasmas as co-pathogens of the genitourinary tract in HIV-1 infected patients seems to be unlikely. Further longitudinal studies need to be done to confirm these findings.

Association of genital mycoplasmas including Mycoplasma genitalium in HIV infected men with nongonococcal urethritis attending STD & HIV clinics.

Background & objectives: Acute nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is one of the commonest sexually transmitted infections affecting men. The role of genital mycoplasmas including Mycoplasma genitalium in HIV infected men with NGU is still not known. The aim of this study was to determine the isolation pattern/detection of genital mycoplasma including M. genitalium in HIV infected men with NGU and to compare it with non HIV infected individuals. Methods: One hundred male patients with NGU (70 HIV positive, 30 HIV negative) were included in the study. Urethral swabs and urine samples obtained from patients were subjected to semi-quantitative culture for Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasama urealyticum, whereas M. genitalium was detected by PCR from urine. The primers MgPa1 and MgPa3 were selected to identify 289 bp product specific for M. genitalium. Chalmydia trachomatis antigen detection was carried out by ELISA. Results: M. genitalium and M. hominis were detected/isolated in 6 per cent of the cases. M. genitalium was more common amongst HIV positive cases (7.1%) as compared to HIV negative cases (3.3%) but difference was not statistically significant. Co-infection of C. trachomatis and U. urealyticum was found in two HIV positive cases whereas, C. trachomatis and M. hominis were found to be coinfecting only one HIV positive individual. M. genitalium was found to be infecting the patients as the sole pathogen. Interpretation & conclusions: Patients with NGU had almost equal risk of being infected with M. genitalium, U. urealyticum or M. hominis irrespective of their HIV status. M.genitalium constitutes one of the important causes of NGU besides other genital mycoplasmas.

Occurrence of Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum in Women with Cervical Dysplasia in Katowice, Poland

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of genital mycoplasmas, especially Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum, in women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), compared to women with normal cytology living in Katowice, Poland. Two sterile swabs were used to obtain material from the posterior vaginal fornix of 143 women with squamous intraepithelial lesions and 39 healthy women: first for general bacteriology, second for detection of urogenital mycoplasmas using Mycoplasma IST2 kit. From each positive Mycoplasma IST2 culture DNA was isolated and PCR was performed for identification of U. parvum and U. urealyticum. Mycoplasma IST was positive in 34.1% cases. Urogenital mycoplasmas were demonstrated in women with HSIL significantly more often compared to women with LSIL, ASCUS, and with normal cytology. DNA of U. parvum was demonstrated in majority of Mycoplasma IST2-positive cases, U. urealyticum DNA-only in 9 (4.9%). Predominance of 3/14 serovars of U. parvum was demonstrated. U. urealyticum biovar 2 was present more often in women with squamous intraepithelial lesions.

Freqüência de infecção pelo Mycoplasma hominis e Ureaplasma urealyticum em mulheres inférteis e relação com repercussões clínicas / Frequency of infection with Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in infertile women and clinical repercussions

OBJETIVOS: determinar a freqüência de infecção pelo Mycoplasma hominis e Ureaplasma urealyticum e relacioná-la a variáveis clínicas de mulheres inférteis. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal com 322 pacientes inférteis submetidas à coleta de swab endocervical para pesquisa de Mycoplasma hominis e Ureaplasma urealyticum, de outubro de 2002 a maio de 2004. Todas as pacientes foram submetidas a protocolo básico de investigação clínica e laboratorial da infertilidade. Como controle, utilizou-se série histórica de 51 mulheres não gestantes, previamente pesquisadas quanto aos agentes infecciosos estudados. RESULTADOS: a freqüência de infecção pelo Mycoplasma hominis e Ureaplasma urealyticum foi de 4,9 por cento nas pacientes inférteis e 13,8 por cento no grupo controle. Entre as pacientes inférteis observou-se relação entre a presença dos dois patógenos e alterações no resultado da histerossalpingografia (OR: 3,20; IC 95 por cento: 1,05-9,73), presença de dispareunia (OR: 10,72; IC 95 por cento: 3,21-35,77) e corrimento vaginal (OR: 8,5; IC 95 por cento: 2,83-26,02), além de cultura endocervical positiva para Escherichia coli (OR: 16,09; IC 95 por cento: 4,95-52,25). CONCLUSAO: a taxa de infecção pelo Mycoplasma hominis e Ureaplasma urealyticum é baixa em pacientes inférteis e está associada a seqüelas reprodutivas tardias

Frequency of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum infections in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Mycoplasma hominis (MH) have been detected in the urine of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We evaluated the presence of these mycoplasma in the endocervix of women presenting SLE. A total of 40 SLE patients (mean age 40.2 years), and 51 healthy women (mean age 30.9 years), were studied. Endocervical swabs were cultured in specific liquid media for MH or UU, detected by a quantitative color assay, and considered positive at >10(3) dilutions. Statistical analysis was performed using the two-tailed Fisher test. UU was detected in 52.5 % of patients and in 11.8% of controls (p= 0.000059). MH was detected in 20% of patients and 2% controls (p=0.003905). Both mycoplasmas were detected in 7.3% patients and 0% controls (p<0.000001). The results reported here corroborate the association of the mycoplasma infection and SLE. Thus, these agents may stimulate the production of autoreactive clones.

Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) e Mycoplasma hominis (MH) têm sido detectados em urina de mulheres com lupus eritematoso sistêmico (LES). Avaliamos a presença destes mycoplasmas no endocervix de mulheres apresentando LES. Um total de 40 pacientes com LES (idade média de 40,2 anos), e 51 mulheres sadias (idade média de 30.9 anos), foram estudadas. Swabs do endocervix foram cultivados em meio líquido específico para MH e UU, detectados por teste colorimétrico quantitativo, considerando positivo diluições > 103 . Análise estatística foi feita usando teste de Fisher. UU foi detectado em 52,5% das pacientes e em 11,8% dos controles (p= 0.000059). MH foi detectado em 20% das pacientes e 2% dos controles (p=0.003905). Ambos mycoplasmas foram detectados em 7,3 % das pacientes e 0% dos controles (p<0.000001). Os resultados aqui reportados corroboram com a associação de infecção por mycoplasma e LES. Estes agentes podem estimular a produção de clones autoreativos.

Prevalencia de Chlamydia trachomatis, micoplasmas urogenitales y sus asociaciones en un grupo de mujeres promiscuas / Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, urogenital micoplasmas and their association to a group of promiscuous women

Chalamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum y Mycoplasma hominis son microorganismos responsables de infecciones urogenitales. Son aislados con considerable frecuencia del tracto genital femenino. En este trabajo se estudiaron 100 exudados vaginales de mujeres promiscuas que concurrieron a la división de Bacteriología del Hospital Central de Río Cuarto. En todas las muestras se investigó la presencia de C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, M. hominis. La prevalencia hallada fue: C. trachomatis 17 por ciento; U. urealyticum 57 por ciento; M. hominis 21 por ciento y Neisseria gonorrhoeae 2 por ciento. Las asociaciones más frecuentes fueron: C. trachomatis-Trichomonas vaginalis, micoplasmas-T. vaginalis y Gardnerella vaginalis-Candida albicans con un 18 por ciento, 15 por ciento y 8 por ciento respectivamente

Infecçäo Genital Feminina por Mycoplasma Hominis e Ureaplasma Urealyticum e sua Relaçäo com a Gravidez e a Infecçäo pelo HIV-1 / Female Genital infection caused by Mycoplasma Hominis and Ureaplasma Urealyticum Related with Pregnancy and HIV-1 Infection

INTRODUÇÄO: Atualmente tem sido realçado o papel da infecçäo genital feminina por Mycoplasma hominis (MH) e Ureaplasma urealiticum (UU) na genesi das complicaçöes sistêmicas que extrapolam a singularidade da infecçäo. A possibilidade de troca de material genético com a célula acometida sustenta um papel na genesi das doenças do conjuntivo e na formaçäo de super-antigenos piorando o prognóstico de mulheres contaminadas pelo Virus da Imunodeficiência Humana tipo 1 (HIV-1). OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a freqüência da infecçäo genital do MH e UU em mulheres, considerando o estado de portadora do HIV-1 e gestaçäo. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo envolvendo 183 mulheres atendidas em um Hospital Universitário entre 1995 e 1996. Dividiu-se as pacientes do estudo em quatro grupos. O grupo I foi formado por 61 gestantes consideradas normais, o grupo II por 12 gestantes portadoras do HIV-1, o grupo III por 60 mulheres näo gestantes portadoras do HIV-1 e o grupo IV por 50 mulheres näo gestantes e näo contaminadas pelo HIV-1. O método utilizado para identificacao do MH e UU foi cultura com diluiçöes sucessivas, considerando positivo as diluiçöes maiores que 10 após a mudança de cor dos meios de cultura. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÄO: Observou-se que as taxas de infecçäo genital pelo MH e UU säo baixas na populaçäo feminina, independentemente de sua condiçäo de portadora do HIV. Verificou-se que no período gestacional a freqüência do MH foi estatisticamente mais baixa ( 1,4 por cento) do que na populaçäo näo gestante ( 12,7 por cento). Näo se observou influência gestacional sobre a freqüência do UU. Sugere-se a todos que tenham condiçöes de cultivo para estes microrganimos que o executem

Aislamiento de la bacteria Ureaplasma sp. en el tracto reproductivo de vacas lecheras de Costa Rica / Isolation of the bacteria Ureaplasma sp. in the reproductive tract of milking cows in Costa Rica

This is the first report of Ureaplasma sp. from the reproductive tract of Costa Rican cows. Among 204 animals sampled from 11 dairy farms in the country's Central Plateau, the infection rate was 0-71 per cent. Isolation was more frequent in vulvo-vestibular (38.7 per cent) than in cervical swabs (23 per cent). Ureaplasma was correlated with clinical granular vulvitis symptoms

Prevalence of genital mycoplasma & ureaplasma infections in pregnancy & their effect on pregnancy outcome.

A cohort of 200 women with singleton pregnancies attending the antenatal clinic, were studied to determine the prevalence of genital mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections in pregnant women and the effect of infection on pregnancy outcome. Vaginal and endocervical swabs were taken at 26-30 wk and again at 36-38 wk of pregnancy and cultured for mycoplasma and ureaplasma. Forty (20%, 95% CI 14.5-25.6%) women were found to be infected with arginine metabolising mycoplasmas and 79 (39.5%, 95% CI 32.7-46.3%) with ureaplasma at either site or either time. The mean +/- SD birth weight of infants born to women infected with mycoplasma alone was 2879 +/- 471 g while that of infants born to women infected with ureaplasma alone was 2964 +/- 412 g. Mean +/- SD birthweight of infants born to women infected with both organisms was 2969 +/- 389 g while that of infants born to uninfected women was 2919 +/- 432 g. These differences were not statistically significant. The median gestation at delivery was 39 wk in the cohort; the differences among the groups were minor and statistically not significant. Thus, although genital mycoplasma/ureaplasma infections were frequent, no association was observed between infection and pregnancy outcome.