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Mycoplasma

microbiology

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15 views11 pages

Mycoplasma

microbiology

Uploaded by

michaelkingtz01
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MYCOPLASMA

PREPARED BY: LEMMYGIUS D BALILEMWA(BSC,MSC.CLINICAL


MICROBIOLOGY)
INTRODUCTION
• Mycoplasma are smallest free-living bacteria that can
be grown in a cell free medium.
• Mycoplasma(Myco,from the fungus-like form of the
branching filaments; plasma denoting their plasticity of
the shape)
• They cause two categories of infections
• 1.Pneumonia-M.pneumoniae
• 2.urogenital infections-M.genitalium
• Mycoplasma may be saprophytic, parasitic or
pathogenic.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
MYCOPLASMA
• They are bacteria that are devoid of cell walls, hence highly
pleormophic with no fixed shape and size.
• They lack cell wall precursors like muramic acids and diaminopimelic
acid.
• The cells are bound by a soft triminar membrane containing sterols
• They were referred to as pleuropneumoniae-like organisms (PPLO)
• These organisms can pass through the filters
MORPHOLOGY
• They appear as granules and filaments of various size
• They may be coccoid,ballon,disc,ring or star shaped forms
• Filaments are slender and show branching
• Multiplications is by binary fission
• Mycoplasma are gram negative but are better stained by giemsa stain.
CLASSIFICATION OF MYCOPLASMA
Established pathogen Infections Site of colonization

M.pneumoniae Pneumonia Oropharynx

M.Homis and M.genitalium Genital infections Genital tract


ANTIGENIC PROPERTIES
• The antigenic properties of mycoplasma are mainly glycolipids and
proteins
• Glycolipid antigens are identified by complement fixation
• Protein antigens are detected by ELISA
RESISTANCE
• Mycoplasma are destroyed at 45 degree celcious in 15mins
• They can be lysed by surface active agents and lipolytic agents such as
taurocholate and digitonin
• They are resistant to penicillin and cephalosporins as well as
lysozymes that act on cell walls
• They are sensitive to tetracyclines, erythromycin and other macrolides
as well as many other antibiotics
PATHOGENICITY
• Pathogenic mycoplasma exhibit host specificity.
• They generally produce infections by adhering to the mucosa of
respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts.
• Mycoplasma causes two types of infections
• Mycoplasmal pneumonia, primary atypical pneumonia (PAP),is caused
by M.pneumoniae,the disease is typically tracheobronchitis, the
incubation period is 1-3 weeks.
• Onset is gradual, with fever,malaise,headache and sore throat.
• Paroxysmal cough may occur with blood-tinged sputum
• The disease is characterized by minimum respiratory signs on physical
examination but marked by radiological evidence of consolidation,
which is usually patchy, involving one of the lower lobe, starting at the
helium and funning out to the periphery
• The disease is usually self limiting, with recovery in 1-2 weeks.
• Note :Mycoplasmas tend to cause severe and prolonged infections in
HIV-infected and other immunodeficient subjects.
LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS.
• Specimens: throat swab inoculated on sterile transport media
• Culture: hay flick medium: the colonies show fried egg appearance
• Molecular methods eg PCR
• Serology

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