Ureaplasma urealyticum

Test code: B0013 - Qualitative detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum by polymerase chain reaction

Ureaplasma urealyticum is an inhabitant of the normal human genital tract and is found in 65–80% of sexually active men and women. U. urealyticum is sexually transmitted and is frequently recognized as a cause of non-chlamydial non-gonococcal urethritis in men and women. Additionally, U. urealyticum is the etiological agent of a serious infection of newborns that can cause either a severe respiratory disease in utero or mild or severe meningitis. Moreover, U. urealyticum is associated with infertility, altered sperm motility, low birth weight, chorioamnioitis, spontaneous abortions, and still and premature births. Ureaplasmal involvement is also suspected in cases of prostatitis, epididymitis, urinary calculi and suppurative arthritis associated with hypogammaglobulinemia.

The organism is difficult to culture. Although highly purified EIA antigens are available now to permit detection of antibodies specific to U. urealyticum without cross-reactivity to other non-ureaplasmal antibodies, this method cannot be applied to different sample types. For example, Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma CNS infections of newborns are not characterized serologically or by intrathecal synthesis of specific IgG (Waites et al., 1988; Shaw et al., 1989). Detection of this micro-organism by PCR is more sensitive than culture (~95% vs. 91%) and is much faster (~24 hrs. vs. ~5 days) (Abele-Horn et al., 1996; Teng et al., 1994). In patients with U. urealyticum arthritis, PCR techniques afford rapid, specific diagnosis (Meignan, 1997; Xavier Puéchal et al., 1995).

Since U. urealyticum is one of the most frequent causes of male infertility, stillbirth and pre-mature birth, reducing the spread of this infection is critical in successful breeding program of non-human primates. Rapid and accurate diagnosis using PCR technique is therefore an important monitoring tool of non-human primates for this infection.

Utilities:

• Confirm the disease causing agent
• Ensure that animal colonies are free of U. urealyticum bacteria
• Early prevention of spread of the bacteria among a colony
• Minimize personnel exposure to the bacteria
• Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines that derive from primates

References:
Abele-Horn, M., Wolff, C., Dressel, P., Zimmermann, A., Vahlensieck, W., Pfaff, F. and Ruckdeschel, G. (1996). Polymerase chain reaction versus culture for detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in the urogenital tract of adults and the respiratory tract of newborns. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 15:595-598.
Meignan F. (1997)Ureaplasma urealyticum is an underrecognized cause of reactive arthritis. Rev. Rhum. Engl. Ed. 64:595-596.
Shaw, N.J., Pratt, B.C. and Weindling, A.M. (1989) Ureaplasma and mycoplasma infections of the central nervous system in preterm infants Lancet 2:1530-1531.
Teng, K., Li, M., Yu, W., Li, H., Sen, D. and Liu, D. (1994) Comparison of PCR with culture for detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum in clinical samples from patients with urogenital infections. J. Clin. Microbiol. 32:2232-2234.
Waites, K.B., Rudd, P.T., Crouse, D.T., Canupp, K.C., Nelson, K.G., Ramsey, C. and Cassell G.H. (1988) Chronic Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis infections of central nervous system in preterm infants. Lancet 1:17-21.
Xavier Puéchal, X., Hilliquin, P., Renoux, M., Menkés, C.J., Renaudin, H. and Bébéar, C. (1995) Ureaplasma urealyticum destructive septic polyarthritis revealing a common variable immunodeficiency. Arthritis. Rheum. 38:1524-1527.

Specimen requirement: 1 ml semen, amniotic fluid, CSF or tissue, or vaginal swab or culture, shipped overnight at room temperature.

For specimen types other than those listed here, please call to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative PCR

Normal range: Nondetected