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Detection and characterisation of mycoplasmas in women visiting an antenatal or reproductive biology clinic

Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2019.

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Other Authors: Kock, Marleen
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Kock, Marleen
author_browse Kock, Marleen
author_facet Kock, Marleen
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2019.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:36:34.553Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107169 Detection and characterisation of mycoplasmas in women visiting an antenatal or reproductive biology clinic Kock, Marleen dubaconfidence@gmail.com Ehlers, M.M. (Marthie Magdaleen) Duba, Thabang Confidence UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Genital mycoplasmas Sexual transmitted diseases Bacterial vaginosis Mycofast revolution Sexually transmitted infections Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2019. Genital mycoplasmas are opportunistic bacteria that are associated with undesirable gynaecologic and reproductive events. These bacteria are characterised by their small size, lack of cell wall, extremely fastidious in vitro environmental requirements, and tendency to form centred colonies on solid media. Ureaplasmas and M. hominis are considered opportunistic pathogens because they can be isolated from the lower urogenital tract of healthy women as well as from individuals with disease. The commercial Mycofast Revolution assay permits the phenotypic detection and identification of genital mycoplasmas. This assay allows for antimicrobial susceptibility testing with specific minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) as defined by the 2011 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. The antibiotics that are tested include clindamycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and tetracycline (CLSI, 2011). The aim of this study was to detect genital mycoplasmas as well as their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles in women visiting an antenatal and the reproductive biology clinic of a tertiary academic hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. Methods: Women who attended either the antenatal or the reproductive biology clinic at an academic hospital in Pretoria, Gauteng South Africa, who met the inclusion criteria, were approached to participate in this study. Four self-collected vaginal swabs were obtained from each participant visiting the clinics who gave signed informed consent. The first swab was used to inoculate A7 Mycoplasma agar plates for culturing genital mycoplasmas. The second swab was used to perform Nugent scoring for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis. The third swab was used to inoculate the Mycofast Revolution assay for the identification, enumeration and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of genital mycoplasmas and the fourth swab was used for a molecular conventional PCR assay for the detection of genital mycoplasmas. Results: Hundred and six participants who either attended the antenatal (55) or reproductive biology clinic (51) at an academic hospital in Pretoria, Gauteng South Africa were recruited.In the reproductive biology clinic, 53% (27/51) of cultures were positive for Ureaplasma spp., and 18% (9/51) for M. hominis. Ureaplasma spp. resistant to tetracycline in the antenatal and the reproductive biology clinics were 51% (18/35) and 52% (14/27) respectively. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed using the Nugent scoring system and 20% (11/55) of the participants were BV positive in the antenatal clinic and 20% (10/51) in the reproductive biology clinic. The Mycofast Revolution assay detected genital mycoplasmas in 67% (37/55) of samples at the antenatal clinic and 57% (29/51) in the reproductive biology clinic. In the antenatal clinic, 64% (35/55) of cultures were positive for Ureaplasma spp., and 27% (15/55) for M. hominis. The overall prevalence of M. genitalium, M. hominis, U. parvum and U. urealyticum in both clinics combined detected using conventional multiplex PCR assay was 1% (1/106), 5% (5/106),19% (20/106) and 4% (4/106) respectively. Mycoplasma hominis resistance to tetracycline in the antenatal and the reproductive biology clinics was 56% (5/9) and 51% (18/35) respectively. Conclusion: This study has shown that the infection rate of genital mycoplasmas was higher among pregnant women. In order to prevent complications in pregnant women, the foetus and the neonate, routine screening for the presence of genital mycoplasmas is strongly recommended. This study has shown that the Mycofast Revolution assay could be considered as a cost-effective alternative to conventional culture methods for the rapid detection of genital mycoplasmas as well as antibiotic resistance. Microbiology and Plant Pathology MSc (Microbiology) Unrestricted Faculty of Health Sciences SDG-03: Good health and well-being 2025-12-09T12:48:06Z 2025-12-09T12:48:06Z 2019-04 2019-02 Dissertation * A2019 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107169 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Genital mycoplasmas
Sexual transmitted diseases
Bacterial vaginosis
Mycofast revolution
Sexually transmitted infections
Detection and characterisation of mycoplasmas in women visiting an antenatal or reproductive biology clinic
title Detection and characterisation of mycoplasmas in women visiting an antenatal or reproductive biology clinic
title_full Detection and characterisation of mycoplasmas in women visiting an antenatal or reproductive biology clinic
title_fullStr Detection and characterisation of mycoplasmas in women visiting an antenatal or reproductive biology clinic
title_full_unstemmed Detection and characterisation of mycoplasmas in women visiting an antenatal or reproductive biology clinic
title_short Detection and characterisation of mycoplasmas in women visiting an antenatal or reproductive biology clinic
title_sort detection and characterisation of mycoplasmas in women visiting an antenatal or reproductive biology clinic
topic UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Genital mycoplasmas
Sexual transmitted diseases
Bacterial vaginosis
Mycofast revolution
Sexually transmitted infections
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107169