Real-time detection of Ureaplasma species by PCR
Ureaplasma species is a parasitic microorganism that lives on cell membranes. It occupies an intermediate place between viruses and bacteria. Ureaplasma has no cell wall, its role is performed by a three-layered cytoplasmic membrane. Ureaplasma refers to conditionally pathogenic microorganisms inhabiting the mucous membranes of the genitals and genitourinary tract. It has a high tropicity (selectivity) to the epithelial cells of the genitourinary tract. Asymptomatic carrier is observed in about 70 percent of men and women who are sexually active.
"Species" is not the name of a specific type of ureaplasma. This term includes the following types of microorganism:
- Ureaplasma parvum
- urealyticum
- canigenitalium
- cati
- diversum
- felinum
- gallorale
- loridis
Ureaplasma causes an inflammatory disease – ureaplasmosis, which is accompanied by damage to the urethra, as well as the prostate gland in men and the vagina in women. The clinical picture of ureaplasmosis manifests itself only with an increase in the number of ureaplasmas above the threshold level (10^4 CFU), which occurs most often with a decrease in the protective properties of the body.
Infection with ureaplasmosis occurs mainly sexually, including the oral-genital route of transmission. The infection is transmitted to newborns from an infected mother during the passage of the child through the birth canal. When planning pregnancy, parents need to be examined for this infection, since intrauterine infection of the fetus may occur during pregnancy, leading to severe consequences, especially during the period of active development of organs of the fetus.
Factors contributing to infection with ureaplasma include:
- Unprotected sex and frequent change of sexual partners;
- Taking broad-spectrum antibiotics;
- Reduction of general and local immunity.
Clinical manifestations
In women:
- Non-abundant vaginal discharge, almost colorless, without a specific odor;
- Lower abdominal pain with a type of resistance, which may be associated with the spread of the inflammatory process to the uterus and appendages;
- Frequent urges to urinate unrelated to physiologic need;
- Pain and burning sensation during the act of urination;
- Unpleasant, moderately painful sensations during sexual contact or after sexual intercourse.
In men:
- Non-abundant, cloudy odorless discharge from the external urethra, most often in the morning after a long pause between acts of urination;
- Moderate painful sensations during urination, burning sensation are less common;
- Painful sensations in the scrotum, due to the penetration of infection into the testicle and appendage of the testicle.
In men and women:
- In the transition of ureaplasmosis in chronic forms, infertility may be observed, which is due to the development of adhesions, with women narrowing the lumen of the fallopian tubes, and in men “clogged” vas deferens.
The determination of ureaplasmas by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is characterized by high sensitivity and specificity (98%). The principle of PCR is to identify a unique DNA fragment belonging to a given microorganism after repeated doubling of the sampling genetic material in a test tube.
In the OLYMP CDL branches, PCR analyses are done in REAL-TIME mode, which means that after each hardware cycle (amplification), the amount of DNA in the biomaterial is measured. This procedure reduces the probability of a false positive result to almost zero!