Ureaplasma urealyticum

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Ureaplasma urealyticum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria
Division: Firmicutes
Class: Mollicutes
Order: Mycoplasmatales
Family: Mycoplasmataceae
Genus: Ureaplasma
Species: U. urealyticum
Binomial name
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Shepard et al., 1974

Ureaplasma urealyticum is a bacterium belonging to the family Mycoplasmataceae. Its type strain is T960.

Contents

[edit] Clinical significance

U. urealyticum is part of the normal genital flora of both men and women. It is found in about 70% of sexually active humans.

It had also been described to be associated with a number of diseases in humans, including non-specific urethritis (NSU), infertility, chorioamnionitis, stillbirth, premature birth, and, in the perinatal period, pneumonia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia[1] and meningitis.

However, given the relatively low pathogenicity of the organism its role in some of these diseases remains contentious.

U. urealyticum has been noted as one of the infectious causes of sterile pyuria.[2]

[edit] Classification

There are six recognised Ureaplasma species, They have a GC content of 27–30%, and a genome size ranging between 0.76–1.17 Mbp, and cholesterol is required for growth. A defining characteristic of the genus is that they perform urea hydrolysis.

It is now recommended that some strains originally classified as Ureaplasma urealyticum should be treated as a new species, U. parvum.

[edit] Treatment

Doxycycline is the drug of choice; streptomycin is an alternative but is less popular because it must be injected. Penicillins are ineffective — U. urealyticum doesn't have a cell wall, which is the drug's main target.

[edit] References

Ureaplasma Urealyticum is not always treatable with Doxicycline. The doctor has to determine which particular type of antibiotic will treat a partuicular type of ureaplasma.

[edit] External links


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