Cervical Cytology of Samples with Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Detected by Multiplex PCR

Abstract

<jats:p><jats:italic>Introduction</jats:italic>. Despite increasing application of molecular diagnostic methods for the detection of sexually transmitted infections, the cytological findings in pap smears of patients with pathogens that can be identified only by PCR are not yet well described. The aim of this study was to describe the most common cytological features in cervical pap smears of patients with <jats:italic>Chlamydia trachomatis</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Mycoplasma genitalium</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Trichomonas vaginalis</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Mycoplasma hominis</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Ureaplasma urealyticum</jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>Ureaplasma parvum</jats:italic> detected by multiplex PCR. <jats:italic>Methods</jats:italic>. Cervical samples for conventional and liquid-based cytology and for multiplex PCR were collected from women ranging from 23 to 54 years old, who underwent routine screening at a gynecological Unit. <jats:italic>Results</jats:italic>. Multiplex PCR was positive in 36.2% of the samples: <jats:italic>Ureaplasma parvum</jats:italic> 14.9%, <jats:italic>Chlamydia trachomatis</jats:italic> 10.6%, <jats:italic>Trichomonas vaginalis</jats:italic> 10.6%, <jats:italic>Mycoplasma hominis</jats:italic> 8.5%, <jats:italic>Ureaplasma urealyticum</jats:italic> 4.2%, <jats:italic>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</jats:italic> 2.1%, and <jats:italic>Mycoplasma genitalium</jats:italic> (0). Multiple pathogens were observed in 12.8% of samples. Microscopic cervicitis (≥10 polymorphonuclear leukocytes/epithelial cell) and normal (predominantly lactobacillary) microbiota were the most frequent findings in the samples in which the pathogens were detected alone or in multiple infections, except for samples with <jats:italic>Trichomonas vaginalis</jats:italic> in which the coccobacillary microbiota was the most common. In samples with microscopic cervicitis and normal microbiota, those with at least one pathogen identified by multiplex PCR were significantly more frequent than those with no pathogen, 66.6% versus 33.3%. <jats:italic>Conclusion</jats:italic>. Failure to identify an inflammatory agent in pap smear with intense neutrophil exudate may suggest the presence of <jats:italic>Ureaplasma parvum</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Ureaplasma urealyticum</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Chlamydia trachomatis</jats:italic>, or <jats:italic>Trichomonas vaginalis</jats:italic>. A remark on the intensity of inflammation should be made in the reports of cervical pap smears so that this cytological finding can be correlated with clinical and PCR results.</jats:p>

Association of Righ-Risk Human Papillomavirus and Ureaplasma parvum Co-Infections with Increased Risk of Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Cervical Lesions

“…Additionally, we found that U. parvum was the most frequent bacterial agent detected (n = 125/283, 44.2%). Our results are similar to obtained in a recent study, which U. parvum was the most prevalent mycoplasma in the cervix (Carneiro et al, 2020). However, for these authors, U. parvum, M. hominis and U. urealyticum were detected at much lower rates (14.9%, 8.5% and 4.2%, respectively) than in our study, and M. genitalium was also not detected.…”

Monitoring Sexually Transmitted Infections in Cervicovaginal Exfoliative Samples in Mexican Women

“…Our study showed an overall rate of STI-positive cases (46.4%), higher in women aged 41-50 years, a frequent percentage described in a diversity of populations [17][18][19]. In this sense, Kim et al demonstrated rates of STI-positive status of 49.2% and showed a peak distribution in those 40-49 years old, which highlights comparable results with our study population [19].…”

“…Coinfections were not the most prevalent cases, with 12.7%, with similar results (12.8%) in Cervical Cytology of Samples using homolog PCR techniques [17]. Another common finding was the coinfections: Candida spp.…”

“…In our study, this microorganism was the third most prevalent pathogen, and associated with coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. This coinfection was described previously [17,28]. Due to that Candida spp.…”

Infecção por micoplasma genital e o desfecho de parto pré-termo: coorte BRISA

“…A colonização do trato genitourinário por micoplasmas genitais é frequente em mulheres saudáveis e sintomáticas (HORNER et al, 2018) Comparando os nossos resultados com as análises feitas em estudos brasileiros com mulheres não gestantes assintomáticas, as prevalências de Mh variaram de 0,8% -11,3% e para Ureaplasma spp. as taxas foram de 0,94% -14,9% (CARNEIRO et al, 2020;CHRISTOFOLINI et al, 2012;LIMA et al, 2018). Já em artigos realizados com populações sintomáticas, a prevalência de Mh apresentou taxas de 21,9 -31,8% e Ureaplasma spp.…”