Skip to main content

The bacteriology, pathogenesis and treatment of Ureaplasma urealyticum in human infertility

  • Chapter
Uncommon Infections and Special Topics

Part of the book series: Infections in Reproductive Health ((IRHC,volume 2))

  • 76 Accesses

Abstract

Since mycoplasma was first isolated from a genital tract abscess in 1937 (Dienes and Edsall, 1937), the role of this organism in reproductive failure has been controversial. Studies performed during the last several decades have associated mycoplasma with other conditions, such as reproductive failure and relative or absolute infertility. Several investigators have demonstrated that the relative frequency of T-mycoplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum) colonization of the genital tract depends on the number of sexual partners (Home et al., 1973; Rehewy et al., 1978) and that infertile couples tend to have higher colonization rates than fertile controls (Graber et al., 1979). Nonetheless, epidemiological studies of patients with Ureaplasma urealyticum genital tract infections have provided conflicting results regarding its role in infertility and other disorders of the reproductive tract (Shepard et al., 1974).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • André, D., Sepetjian, M., Mikaelin, S. et al. (1978). Role des myeoplasmes dans la sterilite: Etude de 150 femmes sterile. J. Gynecol. Obstet. Biol. Reprod. (Paris). 7, 51

    Google Scholar 

  • Barile, M. F. (1973). Mycoplasmal contamination of cell cultures: Mycoplasma-virus-cell culture interactions. In Fogh, J. (ed.) Contamination in Tissue Culture, p. 131. ( New York: Academic Press )

    Google Scholar 

  • Boatman, E., Cartwright, F. and Kenny, G. (1977). Morphology, morphometry and electron-microscopy of HeLa cells infected with bovine mycoplasma. Cell Tis. Res., 170, 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, P. and Besdine, R. (1973). Tuboovarian abscess with recovery of T-mycoplasma. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 177, 86

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, P., Klein, J. O., Lee, Y. H. et al. (1970). Methodologie investigations and prevalence of genital mycoplasmas in pregnancy. J. Infect. Dis., 121, 391

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braun, P., Lee, Y. H. and Klein, J. O. et al. (1971). Birth weight and genital mycoplasmas in pregnancy. N. Engl. J. Med., 284, 167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, S., Teplits, M. and Revel, J.-P. (1974). Interaction of mycoplasmas with cell cultures, as visualized by electron microscopy. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 71, 464

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cassell, G. H., Younger, B. J., Brown, M. B. et al. (1983). Microbiologic study of infertile women at the time of diagnostic laparoscopy: association of Ureaplasma urealyticum with a defined sub-population. N. Engl. J. Med., 308, 502

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chanock, R. M., Hayflick, L. and Barile, M. F. (1962). Growth on artificial medium of an agent associated with atypical pneumonia and its identification as a PPLO. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 48, 41

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, G. and Somerson, N. L. (1969). Glucose dependent secretion and destruction of hydrogen peroxide by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. J. Bacteriol., 98, 547

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collier, A. M., Clyde, W. A., Jr. and Demy, F. W. (1969). Biologic effects of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and other mycoplasmas from man on hamster tracheal organ culture. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 132, 1153

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • deLouvois, J., Blades, M., Harrison, R. F. et al. (1974). Frequency of mycoplasma in fertile and infertile couples. Lancet, 1, 1073

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dienes, L. and Edsall, J. (1937). Observations on L-organisms of Klieneberger. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 36, 740

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowlkes, D. M., Dooher, G. B. and O’Leary, W. M. (1975). Evidence by scanning electron microscopy for an association between spermatozoa and T-mycoplasmas in men of infertile marriage. Fertil. Steril., 26, 1203

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friberg, J. and Gnarpe, H. (1973). Mycoplasma and human reproductive failure. III. Pregnancy in infertile couples treated with doxycycline for T-mycoplasmas. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 116, 23

    Google Scholar 

  • Friberg, J. and Gnarpe, H. (1974). Mycoplasmas in semen from fertile and infertile men. Andrologia, 6, 45

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furness, G. (1973). T-mycoplasmas: their growth and production of a toxic substance in broth. J. Infect. Dis., 127, 9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gabridge, M. G., Abrams, G. D. and Murphy, W. H. (1972). Lethal toxicity of Mycoplasma fermentans for mice. J. Infect. Dis., 125, 153

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gnarpe, H. and Friberg, J. (1972). Mycoplasma and human reproductive failure. I. The occurrence of different mycoplasmas in couples with reproductive failure. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 114, 727

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gnarpe, H. and Friberg, J. (1973). T-mycoplasmas on spermatozoa and infertility. Nature (London), 245, 97

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graber, C. D., Creticos, P., Valicenti, J. et al. (1979). T-mycoplasma in human reproductive failure. Obstet. Gynecol., 54, 558

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harwick, H. J., Purcell, R. H., Iuppa, J. B. et al. (1970). Mycoplasma hominis and abortion. J. Infect. Dis., 121, 260

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horne, H. W., Hertig, A. T., Kundsin, R. B. et al. (1973). Sub-clinical endometrial inflammation and T-mycoplasma: a possible cause of human reproductive failure. Int. J. Fertil., 18, 226

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khatamee, M. A. and Decker, W. H. (1978). Recovery of genital mycoplasma from infertile couples using New York City medium. Infertility, 1, 155

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, J. O., Buckland, D. and Finland, M. (1969). Colonization of newborn infants by mycoplasmas. N. Engl. J. Med., 280, 1025

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kundsin, R. B., Driscoll, S. G. and Ming, P. L. (1967). Strain of mycoplasma associated with human reproductive failure. Science, 157, 1573

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y.-H., Bailey, P. E. and McCormack, W. M. (1972). T-mycoplasmas from urine and vaginal specimens: decreased rates of isolation and growth in the presence of thallium acetate. J. Infect. Dis., 125, 318

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCormack, W. M., Almeida, P. C., Bailey, P. E. et al. (1972). Sexual activity and vaginal colonization with genital mycoplasmas. J. Am. Med. Assoc., 221, 1375

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCormack, W. M., Braun, P., Lee, Y.-H. etal. (1973). The genital mycoplasmas. N. Engl. J. Med., 288, 78

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manchee, R. J. and Taylor-Robinson, D. (1968). Haemadsorption and haemagglutination by mycoplasmas. J. Gen. Microbiol., 50, 465

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manchee, R. J. and Taylor-Robinson, D. (1969). Studies on the nature of receptors involved in attachment of tissue culture cells to mycoplasmas. Br. J. Exp. Pathol., 50, 66

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MÃ¥rdh, P.-A., Westrøm, L., von Mecklenburg, C. et al. (1976). Studies on ciliated epithelia of the human genital tract. Br. J. Vener. Dis., 52, 52

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Masover, G. K., Razin, S. and Hayflick, L. (1977). Effects of carbon dioxide, urea and ammonia on growth of Ureaplasma urealyticum (T-strain mycoplasma). J. Bacteriol., 130, 292

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, C. D., Elmslie, R. G., Clapp, C. H. et al. (1975). The frequency of genital mycoplasma infection in human fertility. Fertil. Steril., 26, 988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nagata, Y., Iwasaka, T. and Wada, T. (1979). Mycoplasma infection and infertility. Fertil. Steril., 31, 392

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Leary, W. M. and Frick, J. (1975). The correlation of human male infertility with the presence of mycoplasma T-strains. Andrologia, 7, 309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Razin, S. (1969). Structure and function in mycoplasma. Ann. Rev. Microbiol., 23, 317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rehewy, M. S. E., Jaszczak, S., Hafez, E. S. E. et al (1978). Ureaplasma urealyticum (T-mycoplasma) in vaginal fluid and cervical mucus from fertile and infertile women. Fertil Steril., 30, 297

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, E. L. and Stanbridge, E. J. (1975), Comparison of methods for the detection of mycoplasma contamination of cell cultures: a review. In Vitro., 11, 20

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, M. C. (1970). Nongonococcal urethritis associated with human strains of ‘T’ mycoplasmas. J. Am. Med. Assoc., 211, 1335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, M. C. and Lunceford, C. (1970). Urease color test medium U-9 for the detection and identification of ‘T’ mycoplasmas in clinical material. Appl. Microbiol., 20, 539

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, M. C., Lunceford, C. (1976). Differential agar medium (A7) for identification of Ureaplasma urealyticum (human T-mycoplasmas) in primary cultures of clinical material. J. Clin. Microbiol., 3, 613

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, M. C., Lunceford, C. D., Ford, D. K. et al. (1974). Ureaplasma urealyticum: Proposed nomenclature for the human (T-strain) mycoplasmas. Int. J. Sys. Bacteriol., 24, 160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shurin, P. A., Alpert, S., Rosner, B. et al. (1975). Chorioamnionitis and colonization of the newborn infant with genital mycoplasmas. N. Engl. J. Med., 293, 5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sobeslavsky, O., Prescott, B. and Chanock, R. M. (1968). Adsorption of Mycoplasma pneumoniae to neuraminic acid receptors of various cells and possible role in virulence. J. Bacteriol., 96, 695

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stalheim, O. H. V., Proctor, S. J. and Gallagher, J. E. (1976). Growth and effect of ureaplasmas (T mycoplasmas) in bovine oviduct organ cultures. Infect. Imm., 13, 915

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swenson, C. E. and O’Leary, W. M. (1980). Examination of human semen infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum by fluorescence microscopy. Arch. Androl., 5, 373

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swenson, C. E., Toth, A. and O’Leary, W. M. (1979). Ureaplasma urealyticum and infertility: The effect of antibiotic therapy on semen quality. Fertil. Steril., 31, 660

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tarr, P. I., Lee, Y.-H., Albert, S. et al. (1976). Comparison of methods for the isolation of genital mycoplasmas from men. J. Infect. Dis., 133, 419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor-Robinson, D. and Manchee, R. J. (1967a). Adherence of mycoplasmas to glass and plastic. J. Bacteriol., 94, 1781

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor-Robinson, D. and Manchee, R. J. (1967b). Spermadsorption and sperm agglutination by mycoplasmas. Nature (London), 215, 484

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor-Robinson, D. and McCormack, W. M. (1979). Mycoplasmas in human genitourinary infections. In Tully, J. G. and Whitcomb, R. F. (Eds) The Mycoplasmas: Human and Animal Mycoplasmas, vol. 2, p. 307. ( New York: Academic Press )

    Google Scholar 

  • Toth, A., Ledger, W. and O’Leary, W. M. (1982). Evidence for microbial transfer by spermatozoa. Obstet. Gynecol., 59, 556

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toth, A. and Lesser, M. L. (1981). Ureaplasma urealyticum and infertility. A. The effect of different antibiotic regimens on semen quality. B. Two-year follow-up on pregnancy rate after antibiotic therapy. INSERM, 103, 509

    Google Scholar 

  • Toth, A. and Lesser, M. L. (1982). Ureaplasma urealyticum and infertility: the effect of different antibiotic regimens on the semen quality. J. Urol., 128, 705

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toth, A., Lesser, M. L., Brooks, C. et al. (1983). Subsequent pregnancies among 161 couples treated for T-mycoplasma genital tract infection. N. Engl. J. Med.., 308, 505

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toth, A., Swenson, C. E. and O’Leary, W. M. (1978). Light microscopy as an aid in predicting ureaplasma infection in human semen. Fertil. Steril., 30, 586

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tully, J. G. (1974). Mycoplasma neurotoxins: Partial purification of the toxin from Mycoplasma neurolyticum. INSERM, 33, 317

    Google Scholar 

  • Tully, J. G. and Razin, S. (1977). The mollicutes (mycoplasmas). In Laskin, A. I. and Lechevalier, H. A. (Eds). CRC Handbook of Microbiology, 2nd edn., p. 405. ( Cleveland: CRC Press )

    Google Scholar 

  • Windsor, G. D. and Trigwell, J. A. (1976). Prolonged survival of Ureaplasma urealyticum in liquid culture. J. Med. Microbiol., 9, 101

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 MTP Press Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Toth, A. (1985). The bacteriology, pathogenesis and treatment of Ureaplasma urealyticum in human infertility. In: Keith, L.G., Berger, G.S. (eds) Uncommon Infections and Special Topics. Infections in Reproductive Health, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4902-7_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4902-7_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8671-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4902-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics