Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma Dr. R. K. Kalyan Associate Professor Microbiology Dept. Kgmu mycoplasma

Clinical Syndrome - M. pneumoniae

• Incubation - 2-3 weeks
• Fever, headache and malaise
• Persistent, dry, non-productive cough
• Respiratory symptoms
• Patchy bronchopneumonia
• acute pharyngitis may be present
• Organisms persist
• Slow resolution
• Rarely fatal
• Note: Muscle pain and GI symptoms usually not present

Epidemiology - M. pneumoniae

• Occurs worldwide
• No seasonal variation
• Proportionally higher in summer and fall
• Epidemics occur every 4-8 year
• Spread by aerosol route (Confined populations).
• Disease of the young (5-20 years), although all ages are at risk

Laboratory Diagnosis - M. pneumoniae

• Microscopy
• Difficult to stain
• This process can help eliminate other organisms
• Culture (definitive diagnosis)
• Sputum (usually scant) or throat washings
• Special transport medium needed
• Must suspect M. pneumoniae
• May take 2-3 weeks or longer, 6 hour doubling time with glucose and pH indicator included
• Incubation with antisera to look for inhibition.

Laboratory Diagnosis

• Specimens – throat swabs, respiratory secretions.
• Microscopy –
• Highly pleomorphic, varying from small spherical shapes to longer branching filaments.
• 2. Gram negative, but better stained with Giemsa,Dienes’ stain, crystal-fast violet, orcein or fluorochroming with nucleic acid stain as acredine orange

Laboratory Diagnosis

• Isolation of Mycoplasma (Culture) –
• Semi solid enriched medium containing 20% horse or human serum, yeast extract & DNA. Penicillium & Thallium acetate are selective agents.
• (serum – source of cholesterol & other lipids)
• 2. Incubate aerobically for 7 -12 days with 5–10% CO2 at 35-37°C. (temp range 22- 41°C, parasites 35- 37°C, saprophytes – lower temp)