Presence of mycoplasma and ureaplasma species in the vagina of women of reproductive age

Abstract

Objective: Against the background of genital mycoplasmas being implicated as pathogens in the genital tracts of adult humans, this study was carried out to determine the prevalence of genital mycoplasmas among women of reproductive age attending a tertiary-care hospital in Nigeria.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight high vaginal specimens from 114 pregnant and 54 non-pregnant women with or without complaints were studied for the presence of genital mycoplasmas using selective bacteriological culture techniques. Isolates were identified biochemically and serologically.

Results: Sixty (35.7 %) isolates of genital mycoplasmas were obtained from the study population. Identification showed 30 (17.9%) as Mycoplasma species, 13(7.7%) as Ureaplasma species and 17(10.1%) were positive for both organisms. Thirteen (11.4%) ureaplasma isolates were from pregnant women and 17 (31.5%) from non-pregnant women (p< 0.05). Thirty-eight (80.8%) of the Mycoplasma species were identified as Mycoplasma hominis, 6(12.8%) as M.fermentans and 3(6.4%) as M. penetrans. High prevalence of the Mycoplasma species were obtained from asymptomatic pregnant women (84.8%) while the Ureaplasma species were found more from symptomatic non-pregnant women- 35.3 % from infertility patients, 29.4% from those with vaginal discharge and 29.4% from those with other gynaecological complaints.

Conclusion: These findings could be important since genital mycoplasmas have been associated with various adverse conditions especially in pregnant women and neonates while Ureaplasma species have been implicated in infertility. Their specific roles need further investigations.