Morphologic observations of mycoplasmas and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in associated growth patterns

Abstract

Mycoplasma hominis and T-colony mycoplasmas were observed growing among or developing within gonococcal colonies on primary isolation plates streaked for detection of N. gonorrhoeae in urogenital specimens. The frequency of such association of mycoplasmas with gonococci was as high as 84% among patients screened for gonorrhea in several Social Hygiene Clinics of the City of New York, Department of Health, Bureau of Venereal Disease Control. The individual morphology of both mycoplasmal and gonococcal colonies was characteristic when viewed through the light microscope, and their associated growth was maintained throughout numerous serial transfers on agar culture media. Electron microscopy of such interrelated colonies revealed nipple-like projections on the gonococcal cell walls, to which the mycoplasmas appeared to be firmly attached. These morphologic observations are presented and discussed.