Authors : E. Aghabalaei and M.H. Hedaiati
Abstract: Mycoplasmas as human urogenital tract pathogens are associated with infections, reproductive failures and adverse pregnancy outcomes and thus very important to diagnose. Several methods have been used to detect genitourinary Mycoplasmas, each having their own limitations, advantages and disadvantages. In the present study, researchers used microbial culture and PCR to detect Mycoplasmas in urogenital specimens with the aim of comparing detection rate, sensitivity and specificity of the two methods. It was a descriptive cross sectional pilot study. About 30 urogenital samples including 17 vaginal swabs, 7 male urine and 6 female urine samples were collected from patients referring to hospitals regardless of their disease and studied for Mycoplasmas by culture (using two media: PPLO agar and PPLO broth) and PCR. Of total 30 specimens, Mycoplasmas were detected in 14, 11 and 11 of them using PPLO broth culture medium, PPLO agar culture medium and PCR, respectively. Accordingly, the specificity and specificity of the PCR Method was determined 100 and 95%, respectively while culture was found to have a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 66%. Researchers found PCR based on 16S rRNA sequences to be highly sensitive and specific offering a rapid, easy and cost benefit method for detection of Mycoplasmas in comparison to Microbial Culture Method.
E. Aghabalaei and M.H. Hedaiati, 2012. Detection of Urogenital Mycoplasmas Using Culture and PCR: A Descriptive Pilot Study. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 2905-2909.