Mycoplasmas of Humans

Blanchard, Alain; Bebear, Cécile

doi:10.1007/0-306-47606-1_3

Cited by 31 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 130 publications

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“…Taken in aggregate, the preponderance of evidence in subsequent studies utilizing improved detection methods, including the PCR assay, suggests that this mycoplasma is not important in the development of AIDS in the large majority of patients. However, it apparently can play a role as an opportunistic pathogen in this setting and occasionally in persons who are human immunodeficiency virus negative (28,178,284). The notoriety associated with the possibility that this mycoplasma may be involved in the pathogenesis of AIDS led to studies aimed at understanding how it may invade cells and produce disease in the human host.…”

Section: Mycoplasma Fermentansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Antibodies against M. penetrans were detected in up to 40% of human immunodeficiency virus-positive persons, in contrast to less than 1% of human immunodeficiency virus-negative persons (101,331). Thus far there is no compelling evidence that this mycoplasma causes significant disease in any population despite the fact it possesses some features present in other pathogenic mycoplasmas that might enable it to do so under favorable circumstances, such as a prominent terminal tip structure that confers its ability to invade epithelial cells (23,28). Rottem has discussed the interaction of M. penetrans with host cells in a comprehensive review (239).…”

Section: Mycoplasma Penetransmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considerable evidence has accumulated in recent years to suggest it may have an etiologic role as an opportunist in persons with human immunodeficiency virus infection and AIDS (8,9) and a possible association with chronic arthritic conditions (121,132). Other organisms such as M. penetrans appear to have the potential for being human pathogens (28), but no conclusive proof demonstrating this has been offered to date. The most recent human mycoplasmal species to be recognized is Mycoplasma amphoriforme, an organism that has been detected in the lower respiratory tract of several immunocompromised persons in association with chronic bronchitis, and investigations are now under way to determine whether a role in human disease can be established with certainty (335).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mycoplasmas and Ureaplasmas as Neonatal Pathogens

Katz²,

2005

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SUMMARY The genital mycoplasmas represent a complex and unique group of microorganisms that have been associated with a wide array of infectious diseases in adults and infants. The lack of conclusive knowledge regarding the pathogenic potential of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma spp. in many conditions is due to a general unfamiliarity of physicians and microbiology laboratories with their fastidious growth requirements, leading to difficulty in their detection; their high prevalence in healthy persons; the poor design of research studies attempting to base association with disease on the mere presence of the organisms in the lower urogenital tract; the failure to consider multifactorial aspects of diseases; and considering these genital mycoplasmas only as a last resort. The situation is now changing because of a greater appreciation of the genital mycoplasmas as perinatal pathogens and improvements in laboratory detection, particularly with regard to the development of powerful molecular nucleic acid amplification tests. This review summarizes the epidemiology of genital mycoplasmas as causes of neonatal infections and premature birth; evidence linking ureaplasmas with bronchopulmonary dysplasia; recent changes in the taxonomy of the genus Ureaplasma; the neonatal host response to mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections; advances in laboratory detection, including molecular methods; and therapeutic considerations for treatment of systemic diseases.

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Section: Mycoplasma Fermentansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mycoplasma Penetransmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mycoplasmas and Ureaplasmas as Neonatal Pathogens

Katz²,

2005

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“…In addition, mycoplasmas commonly colonize the genital tracts of men and women (34), and the ability of some species to cause nongonococcal urethritis has been well established. However, the prevalence and complete pathogenic potential of this bacterial group is still being elucidated (2,4,34,35).La Crosse, Wisconsin, a small city with a relatively large number of college students, has a low incidence of gonorrhea and syphilis. In addition, the incidence of C. trachomatis infections declined until 1997, though it has increased in recent years.…”

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

High Prevalence of Genital Mycoplasmas among Sexually Active Young Adults with Urethritis or Cervicitis Symptoms in La Crosse, Wisconsin

Schlicht¹,

Lovrich²,

Sartin

et al. 2004

J Clin Microbiol

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Sexually active young adults in the small college town of La Crosse, Wisconsin, were evaluated for conventional sexually transmitted pathogens and tested for infections with mycoplasmas. The prevalence in 65 symptomatic men or women and 137 healthy volunteers (67 men and 70 women) was compared. Urine specimens from both cohorts were tested by ligase chain reaction for Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In addition, the urethral or cervical swabs from the symptomatic subjects were tested by PCR for Mycoplasma genitalium and cultured for Mycoplasma hominis and the ureaplasmas. The results confirmed a relatively low prevalence of gonorrhea among symptomatic men (12%) and chlamydia among symptomatic men (15%) and normal women (3%). In contrast, infections with mycoplasmas, especially the ureaplasmas (57%), were common and the organisms were the only potential sexually transmitted pathogen detected in 40 (62%) symptomatic subjects. Because of the high prevalence, we also evaluated urethral swabs from an additional 25 normal female volunteers and recovered ureaplasmas from 4 (16%) subjects. Additionally, the participants rarely used protection during sexual intercourse and some symptomatic subjects apparently acquired their infections despite using condoms regularly. The findings demonstrate a strong association between abnormal urogenital findings and detection of myoplasmas, particularly ureaplasmas, and suggest the infections will remain common.Genitourinary infections, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are caused by a large number of diverse microbial agents that cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. While "classical" sexually transmitted pathogens such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Treponema pallidum continue to produce serious illnesses among certain (primarily urban) populations in the United States (6, 7), less urbanized communities have a proportionally higher incidence of urethritis and cervicitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. In addition, mycoplasmas commonly colonize the genital tracts of men and women (34), and the ability of some species to cause nongonococcal urethritis has been well established. However, the prevalence and complete pathogenic potential of this bacterial group is still being elucidated (2,4,34,35).La Crosse, Wisconsin, a small city with a relatively large number of college students, has a low incidence of gonorrhea and syphilis. In addition, the incidence of C. trachomatis infections declined until 1997, though it has increased in recent years. This may be due in part to the introduction of more sensitive DNA-based assays. The countywide annual incidence of Chlamydia was 247/100,000 in 2001 (La Crosse County Public Health data). More significantly, a large proportion of urethritis and cervicitis cases remain nongonococcal and nonchlamydial, and we hypothesized a significant contribution from genital mycoplasmas. Accordingly, we evaluated a cohort of sexually active young adults with clinical symptoms suggestive of STD (i.e., urethritis or cer...

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