Shepard (1956) and Shepard, Alexander, Lunceford, and Campbell (1964) reported the isolation from men with non-gonococcal urethritis of a species of mycoplasma which formed very small colonies on culture. The organisms were isolated from 86 per cent. of 79 men in the first study and from 51 per cent. of 64 men in the second. This organism was subsequently called T strain mycoplasma.Ford, Rasmussen, and Minken (1962) and Ford and Duvernet (1963) found that whereas T strain mycoplasmata were isolated from 60 to 79 per cent. of patients with non-gonococcal urethritis, they were found in only 21 to 48 per cent. of normal males. Similar findings were reported by Csonka, Williams, and Corse (1966).These findings suggested that T strain mycoplasma could be an aetiological agent in non-gonococcal urethritis. However, these organisms were also isolated from control groups of patients and the proportions of controls who have yielded this organism have varied considerably. This variation was possibly due to differences in the age and social characteristics of the control groups studied and to difference in the methods used for collecting specimens from the different groups.The present study was undertaken in order to compare the prevalence of T strain mycoplasma in patients suffering from non-gonococcal urethritis and in comparable groups of males not suffering from this disease.
Patients and MethodsThree groups of males were examined. All were over 16 years of age and none gave a history of previous urethritis or prostatitis.(1) Patients with Non-gonococcal Urethritis (45). The diagnosis of non-gonococcal urethritis was made on the basis of a mucopurulent urethral discharge which on * Received for publication June 6, 1966 microscopic examination did not reveal gonococci, and failure to demonstrate Trichomonas vaginalis in the urine. The average age of the patients in this group was 25 years.(2) Normal Controls (54).-These were men seeking reassurance that they had not contracted venereal disease as the result of sexual exposure. Their average age was 29 years.(3) Patients with Gonorrhoea (36).-Men presenting with gonorrhoea were included as an additional control group because of the possibility that the presence of T strain mycoplasmata might simply represent an index of sexual activity. Their average age was 29 years. Collection of Specimens.-These were obtained from all patients by inserting a rigid 4 mm. diameter wire loop 2 inches into the urethra and exerting gentle pressure on the urethral mucosa on withdrawal. The specimens so obtained were inoculated immediately on to a solid medium and into broth. Cultural Methods.-PPLO agar (Difco) supplemented with 10 per cent. horse serum (Burroughs Wellcome No. 3) and 10 per cent. fresh yeast extract and containing 1,000 units penicillin per ml. was used to prepare the solid medium. The liquid medium consisted of Oxoid sensitivity broth to which the same supplements were added. The broth cultures were incubated at 37CC. in an atmosphere of 80 per cent. nitrogen and 20...