Detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in endocervical specimens from infertile women by polymerase chain reaction

Objective: Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis are commonly found in the genitourinary tract as the causative agents of several sexually transmitted diseases, reproductive failure, and neonatal morbidity and mortality. We have used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of these mycoplasmas in endocervical samples from infertile women.
Materials and Methods: 377 endocervical swab samples were taken from infertile women. DNA was extracted by Cadieux method, and analyzed by PCR protocol with species-specific primers for U.urealyticum (urease gene) and M. hominis (16S rRNA gene).
Results: Of the 377 patients studied, 116(30.7%) were positive for U.urealyticum, M. hominis or both genital mycoplasmas. Of these 116 patients, 60 (51.7%) were PCR positive only for U. urealyticum, 31(26.7%) were PCR positive only for M. hominis and 25(21.5%) presented both organisms.
Conclusions: Because of the potential adverse effects of mycoplasmas on the success rate of highly specialized infertility treatment, and its causal roles in several maternal complications of pregnancy and in neonatal morbidity and mortality, the rapid detection of mycoplasmas by PCR in infertile women could be important and necessary. The increased sensitivity and shorter time requirement of PCR support its further development for the diagnosis of mycoplasmas infections.