mycoplasma

1. MycoplasmaMycoplasma
Shilpa.KShilpa.K
Microbiology TutorMicrobiology Tutor
AIMSRCAIMSRC

2. MycoplasmataceaeMycoplasmataceae
 Two generaTwo genera
– MycoplasmaMycoplasma
– UreaplasmaUreaplasma
 Smallest free living bacteriaSmallest free living bacteria
 Do not have a cell wallDo not have a cell wall
– Resistant to cell wall acting antibioticsResistant to cell wall acting antibiotics
 Cell membrane contains sterolsCell membrane contains sterols
 Slow growing & Facultative anaerobeSlow growing & Facultative anaerobe
 Do not stain by ordinary methodsDo not stain by ordinary methods
 Morphology : Highly pleomorhicMorphology : Highly pleomorhic

3. MycoplasmaMycoplasma (Scanning EM)(Scanning EM)

4. Important humanImportant human
pathogenspathogens
 Mycoplasma pneumoniaeMycoplasma pneumoniae
– Eaton’s agentEaton’s agent
– Pleuropneumonia like organism (PPLO)Pleuropneumonia like organism (PPLO)
 Mycoplasma hominisMycoplasma hominis
 Mycoplasma genitaliumMycoplasma genitalium
 Ureaplasma urealyticumUreaplasma urealyticum

5. Organism Disease
M. pneumoniae Upper respiratory tract disease,
tracheobronchitis, atypical
pneumonia, (chronic asthma??)
M. hominis Pyleonephritis, pelvic
inflammatory disease,
postpartum fever
M. genitalium Nongonococcal urethritis
U. urealyticum Nongonococcal urethritis,
(pneumonia and chronic lung
disease in premature infants??)
Diseases Caused by Mycoplasma

6. MycoplasmaMycoplasma
pneumoniaepneumoniae
 Strict human pathogenStrict human pathogen
 Attaches by P1 pili to ciliary base onAttaches by P1 pili to ciliary base on
epithelial cellepithelial cell
 Disease spreads by inhalation ofDisease spreads by inhalation of
aerosolsaerosols
 Spreads among close contactsSpreads among close contacts
 Disease seen worldwideDisease seen worldwide

7. MycoplasmaMycoplasma
pneumoniaepneumoniae
 DiseasesDiseases
– Upper respiratory tract diseasesUpper respiratory tract diseases
– TracheobronchitisTracheobronchitis
– Primary atypical pneumoniaPrimary atypical pneumonia
– ComplicationsComplications
 neurological abnormalities,neurological abnormalities,
 myo/pericarditismyo/pericarditis
 hemolytic anemiahemolytic anemia

8. Atypical pneumoniaAtypical pneumonia
M. pneumoniaeM. pneumoniae
 Incubation - 2-3 weeksIncubation - 2-3 weeks
 Fever, headache and malaiseFever, headache and malaise
 Persistent non-productive coughPersistent non-productive cough
 Respiratory symptomsRespiratory symptoms
– Radiological signs precede symptomsRadiological signs precede symptoms
 Organisms persistOrganisms persist
 Slow resolutionSlow resolution
 Rarely fatalRarely fatal

9. LAB Diagnosis-LAB Diagnosis- MM
pneuminiaepneuminiae
SpecimenSpecimen
 Respiratory secretionsRespiratory secretions
 SerumSerum

10. Laboratory Diagnosis -Laboratory Diagnosis - M.M.
pneumoniaepneumoniae
 MicroscopyMicroscopy
– Difficult to stainDifficult to stain
– Can help eliminate other organismsCan help eliminate other organisms
 Culture (Culture (definitive diagnosisdefinitive diagnosis))
– Sputum or throat washingsSputum or throat washings
– Special transport medium neededSpecial transport medium needed
 High index of suspicion -High index of suspicion - M. pneumoniaeM. pneumoniae
– May take 2-3 weeksMay take 2-3 weeks

11. Culture media usedCulture media used
 PPLO broth and agarPPLO broth and agar
 Serum is necessary for growthSerum is necessary for growth
 In broth, growth indicated by pH changeIn broth, growth indicated by pH change
due to carbohydrate metabolismdue to carbohydrate metabolism
 Colonies best seen under microscope –Colonies best seen under microscope –
Diene’s staining techniqueDiene’s staining technique

12. M pneumoniae coloniesM pneumoniae colonies

13. SerologySerology
 Very useful as culture is technicallyVery useful as culture is technically
demandingdemanding
 Specific and nonspecific serological testsSpecific and nonspecific serological tests
 Specific testsSpecific tests
– Complement Fixation, ELISA, IFAComplement Fixation, ELISA, IFA
 Non specific testsNon specific tests
– Streptococcus MG agglutination testStreptococcus MG agglutination test
– Cold agglutinin test with human O RBCs.Cold agglutinin test with human O RBCs.
Significant titer is > 1:128.Significant titer is > 1:128.

14. Treatment -Treatment - M. pneumoniaeM. pneumoniae
 TreatmentTreatment
– Tetracycline or erythromycinTetracycline or erythromycin
– Can’t use cell wall synthesis inhibitorsCan’t use cell wall synthesis inhibitors

15. Genital mycoplasmaGenital mycoplasma
 M.hominisM.hominis
 M.genitaliumM.genitalium
 Ureaplasma urealyticumUreaplasma urealyticum

16. Organism Disease
M. pneumoniae Upper respiratory tract disease,
tracheobronchitis, atypical
pneumonia, (chronic asthma??)
M. hominis Pyleonephritis, pelvic
inflammatory disease,
postpartum fever
M. genitalium Nongonococcal urethritis
U. urealyticum Nongonococcal urethritis,
(pneumonia and chronic lung
disease in premature infants??)
Diseases Caused by Mycoplasma

17. M. hominisM. hominis,, M. genitaliumM. genitalium
andand
U. urealyticumU. urealyticum
 Laboratory diagnosisLaboratory diagnosis
– Culture (exceptCulture (except M. genitaliumM. genitalium))
– Fried egg appearence of colonies onFried egg appearence of colonies on
PPLO agarPPLO agar

18. Mycoplams sppMycoplams spp
-Colonies-Colonies

19. Differentiation of SpeciesDifferentiation of Species
 M. pneumoniae –M. pneumoniae – fermentsferments glucoseglucose
 M. hominisM. hominis – Hydrolyses– Hydrolyses ArginineArginine
 U. urealyticumU. urealyticum – Hydrolyses– Hydrolyses UreaUrea
 M. genitaliumM. genitalium - difficult to culture- difficult to culture

20. Genital MycoplasmosisGenital Mycoplasmosis
--TreatmentTreatment
Tetracycline orTetracycline or
 ErythromycinErythromycin