Ureaplasma urealyticum

Ureaplasma urealyticum

U. urealyticum is a genital pathogen, which is associated withthe urogenital tract of humans and animals. It is one of the most important causes of nongonococcal urethritis. The bac-teria require supplementation with urea for their growth. Mycoplasma medium supplemented with urea, which is highlybuffered to prevent alkalinity of the medium, is useful for growth of U. urealyticum. U. urealyticum typically hydrolyzes urea as essential growth factor for the bacterium.

      The bacteria like those of mycoplasmas produce very minute colonies measuring 15–50 mm in size. Hence, they were earlier called T strain or T strain Mycoplasma. This human T strain Mycoplasma is now redesignated as U. urealyticum.

          U. urealyticum is a sexually transmitted pathogen and causeschorioamnionitis, prematurity, vaginitis, cervicitis, acute sal-pingitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease in women. Ureaplasma organisms are most frequently isolated from infants, particu-larly girls. The bacteria also cause urethritis, proctitis, balano-posthitis, and Reiter’s syndrome in men.