Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Detection of Ureaplasma biovars and polymerase chain reaction-based subtyping of Ureaplasma parvum in women with or without symptoms of genital infections

  • Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ureaplasma parvum colonises human mucosal surfaces, primarily in the urogenital and respiratory tracts, causing a wide spectrum of diseases, from non-gonococcal urethritis to pneumonitis in immunocompromised hosts. Although the basis for these diverse clinical outcomes is not yet understood, it has been suggested that only certain strains of these micro-organisms are disease-associated. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of Ureaplasma biovars and U. parvum serovars and to estimate their possible association with age, absence of lactobacilli, clinical symptoms and antibiotic resistance. DNA was extracted by endocervical, vaginal and urethral samples obtained from 158 women positive for U. urealyticum by culture and were biotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the multiple-banded gene. Parvo biovar (biovar 1) was found in 136 (86%) and T960 biovar (biovar 2) in 22 (14%) patients. Among the different serovars of U. parvum, we found that serovar 3/14 was present maximally in the 21–25-year-old age group, while T960 biovar was distributed with quite similar frequency in women of 26–30 and >40 years of age. In this study, U. parvum serovar 3/14 and T960 biovar were found to be significantly associated with symptomatic patients and a loss of lactobacilli, while, on the contrary, U. parvum serovar 6 was significantly correlated with asymptomatic women and normal vaginal flora. The most active antibiotic for the majority of Ureaplasma isolates was tetracycline. These preliminary data show the possibility of distinguishing between the more or less virulent strains of Ureaplasma, with important consequences for therapeutic treatment.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pinna GS, Skevaki CL, Kafetzis DA (2006) The significance of Ureaplasma urealyticum as a pathogenic agent in the paediatric population. Curr Opin Infect Dis 19:283–289. doi:10.1097/01.qco.0000224824.73223.e7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Sethi S, Sharma M, Narang A, Aggrawal PB (1999) Isolation pattern and clinical outcome of genital mycoplasma in neonates from a tertiary care neonatal unit. J Trop Pediatr 45:143–145. doi:10.1093/tropej/45.3.143

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Teng LJ, Zheng X, Glass JI, Watson HL, Tsai J, Cassell GH (1994) Ureaplasma urealyticum biovar specificity and diversity are encoded in multiple-banded antigen gene. J Clin Microbiol 32:1464–1469

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Zheng X, Watson HL, Waites KB, Cassell GH (1992) Serotype diversity and antigen variation among invasive isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum from neonates. Infect Immun 60:3472–3474

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kong F, James G, Ma Z, Gordon S, Bin W, Gilbert GL (1999) Phylogenetic analysis of Ureaplasma urealyticum—support for the establishment of a new species, Ureaplasma parvum. Int J Syst Bacteriol 49:1879–1889

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Abele-Horn M, Wolff C, Dressel P, Pfaff F, Zimmermann A (1997) Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum biovars with clinical outcome for neonates, obstetric patients, and gynecological patients with pelvic inflammatory disease. J Clin Microbiol 35:1199–1202

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kim M, Kim G, Romero R, Shim SS, Kim EC, Yoon BH (2003) Biovar diversity of Ureaplasma urealyticum in amniotic fluid: distribution, intrauterine inflammatory response and pregnancy outcomes. J Perinat Med 31:146–152. doi:10.1515/JPM.2003.020

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kong F, Ma Z, James G, Gordon S, Gilbert GL (2000) Species identification and subtyping of Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum using PCR-based assays. J Clin Microbiol 38:1175–1179

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Nugent RP, Krohn MA, Hillier SL (1991) Reliability of diagnosing bacterial vaginosis is improved by a standardized method of gram stain interpretation. J Clin Microbiol 29:297–301

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Clegg A, Passey M, Yoannes M, Michael A (1997) High rates of genital mycoplasma infection in the highlands of Papua New Guinea determined both by culture and by a commercial detection kit. J Clin Microbiol 35:197–200

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Zdrodowska-Stefanow B, Kłosowska WM, Ostaszewska-Puchalska I, Bułhak-Kozioł V, Kotowicz B (2006) Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis infection in women with urogenital diseases. Adv Med Sci 51:250–253

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kechagia N, Bersimis S, Chatzipanagiotou S (2008) Incidence and antimicrobial susceptibilities of genital mycoplasmas in outpatient women with clinical vaginitis in Athens, Greece. J Antimicrob Chemother 62:122–125. doi:10.1093/jac/dkn158

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Horner P, Thomas B, Gilroy CB, Egger M, Taylor-Robinson D (2001) Role of Mycoplasma genitalium and Ureaplasma urealyticum in acute and chronic nongonococcal urethritis. Clin Infect Dis 32:995–1003. doi:10.1086/319594

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Taylor-Robinson D, Furr PM, Webster AD (1985) Ureaplasma urealyticum causing persistent urethritis in a patient with hypogammaglobulinaemia. Genitourin Med 61:404–408

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Abele-Horn M, Scholz M, Wolff C, Kolben M (2000) High-density vaginal Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization as a risk factor for chorioamnionitis and preterm delivery. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 79:973–978. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0412.2000.079011973.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gerber S, Vial Y, Hohlfeld P, Witkin SS (2003) Detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum in second-trimester amniotic fluid by polymerase chain reaction correlates with subsequent preterm labor and delivery. J Infect Dis 187:518–521. doi:10.1086/368205

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Yoon BH, Romero R, Lim JH, Shim SS, Hong JS, Shim JY, Jun JK (2003) The clinical significance of detecting Ureaplasma urealyticum by the polymerase chain reaction in the amniotic fluid of patients with preterm labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol 189:919–924. doi:10.1067/S0002-9378(03)00839-1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Iwasaka T, Wada T, Kidera Y, Sugimori H (1986) Hormonal status and mycoplasma colonization in the female genital tract. Obstet Gynecol 68:263–266

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Povlsen K, Bjørnelius E, Lidbrink P, Lind I (2002) Relationship of Ureaplasma urealyticum biovar 2 to nongonococcal urethritis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 21:97–101. doi:10.1007/s10096-001-0665-1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Povlsen K, Thorsen P, Lind I (2001) Relationship of Ureaplasma urealyticum biovars to the presence or absence of bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women and to the time of delivery. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 20:65–67

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Povlsen K, Jensen JS, Lind I (1998) Detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum by PCR and biovar determination by liquid hybridization. J Clin Microbiol 36(11):3211–3216

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Eschenbach DA (1989) Bacterial vaginosis: emphasis on upper genital tract complications. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 16:593–610

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Donders GG, Van Bulck B, Caudron J, Londers L, Vereecken A, Spitz B (2000) Relationship of bacterial vaginosis and mycoplasmas to the risk of spontaneous abortion. Am J Obstet Gynecol 183:431–437. doi:10.1067/mob.2000.105738

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Keane FE, Thomas BJ, Gilroy CB, Renton A, Taylor-Robinson D (2000) The association of Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma genitalium with bacterial vaginosis: observations on heterosexual women and their male partners. Int J STD AIDS 11:356–360. doi:10.1258/0956462001916056

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Zariffard MR, Saifuddin M, Sha BE, Spear GT (2002) Detection of bacterial vaginosis-related organisms by real-time PCR for Lactobacilli, Gardnerella vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 34:277–281. doi:10.1111/j.1574-695X.2002.tb00634.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Cedillo-Ramírez L, Gil C, Zago I, Yáñez A, Giono S (2000) Association of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum with some indicators of nonspecific vaginitis. Rev Latinoam Microbiol 42:1–6

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Spedali Civili—University of Brescia, P. le Spedali Civili, 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy

    M. A. De Francesco, R. Negrini, G. Pinsi, L. Peroni & N. Manca

Authors
  1. M. A. De Francesco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Negrini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Pinsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. Peroni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N. Manca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. De Francesco.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Francesco, M.A., Negrini, R., Pinsi, G. et al. Detection of Ureaplasma biovars and polymerase chain reaction-based subtyping of Ureaplasma parvum in women with or without symptoms of genital infections. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 28, 641–646 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-008-0687-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-008-0687-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation