MYCOPLASMAS Prof. Khalifa Sifaw Ghenghesh بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم MYCOPLASMAS Prof. Khalifa Sifaw Ghenghesh

Pleomorphic organisms No cell wall Resistant to antibiotics act on bacterial cell wall synthesis and to lysozyme Require animal protein (blood serum) and sterol for cultivation On agar Colonies have “fried egg” appearance Two Important genera Mycoplasma Ureaplasma

Mycoplasma pneumoniae colonies (40X)

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma & Ureaplasma Important species associated with human disease M. fermentans M. genitalium M. hominis M. pneumoniae Ureaplasma urealyticum

Pathogenesis 1. Respiratory Infections Primary atypical pneumonia M. pneumoniae Respiratory infection in the newborn M. hominis and U. urealyticum Other respiratory infection M. hominis and M. fermentans?

2. Urogenital Infections Mainly M. hominis and U. urealyticum Urogenital infections in men >> NGU Urinary infection and calculi Acute pylonephritis Patients with infective stones Reproductive tract disease in women Bacterial vaginosis PID Disease associated with pregnancy and newborn

U. Urealyticum and M. genitalium 3. Joint Infections U. Urealyticum and M. genitalium Sexually acquired reactive arthritis Reiter’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis 4. Infection in the Immuno- compromised M. penumoniae, M. hominis and ureaplasms Severe pneumonia, arthritis, persistent urethritis and chronic cystitis

Laboratory Diagnosis 1. Respiratory Infections Specific serological test Complement fixation test Isolation of M. pneumoniae Specimen: sputum, throat washing, pharyngeal swab Specific selective liquid and solid media Requires up to 3 weeks incubation? PCR

2. Urogenital Infections Isolation of the causative organism Specimen: Urethral, cervical or vaginal swabs Specific selective liquid media Culture on solid media Serological tests For definitive identification PCR DNA primers used for amplification by PCR

Treatment 1. Respiratory Infections 2. Urogenital Infections M. pneumoniae Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Clarithromycin, Ciprofloxacin 2. Urogenital Infections Tetracyclines, Erythromycin plus clindamycin