The Significance of T Strain Mycoplasmas in Venereal Disease

摘要

Cultures of 190 male and female patients with symptoms of genitoinfectious disease as well as 36 of their contacts were cultured for mycoplasmas and gonococci. Mycoplasma species, particularly T strains, were isolated more frequently than gonococci in both males and females. Females carried mycoplasmas more frequently in the genitourinary tract in statistically significant numbers than males, while males carried gonococci more frequently in the genitourinary tract than females in statistically significant numbers. The metabolic inhibition test for T strains did show differences titers in blood sera in three populations that were compared. Statistically significant numbers of patients with genitoinfectious disease had titers as opposed to asymptomatic operating room personnel. Suggestion of serologic groups of T strains emerged when sera from rabbits immunized with T strains were tested against the antigens used. Chromosomal studies using human peripheral lymphocytes infected with T strains showed that chromosomal abnormalities could be induced by two genital tract isolates, the Boston T strain from a middle trimester abortion and a cervical isolate from a patient with primary infertility. The abnormalities were breaks, gaps, and polyploidy in statistically significant numbers over control cells without T strains. (Author)