Abstract

MONDEJA-RODRIGUEZ, Brian Arturo et al. Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium by Polymerase Chain Reaction in urogenital samples from sexually-active Cuban individuals. Vaccimonitor [online]. 2014, vol.23, n.1, pp.17-23. ISSN 1025-028X.

The diagnosis of Mycoplasma genitalium infections by bacteriological culture is not feasible due to slow growth and that is time-consuming. Consequently, molecular tools using DNA amplification are widely used in the infection diagnosis. There are few reports in Cuba on infections caused by this pathogen. The aim of this study was to detect M. genitalium in clinical samples from sexually active individuals, by two PCR assays. PCR-methods were implemented and evaluated on clinical samples for the detection of M. genitalium using fragments of the 16S rRNA (427 pb) and mgpB adhesion genes (281 pb) as targets. The PCR assays were used on 300 endocervical swabs from female patients with urogenital symptoms and on 49 first-void-urine samples from asymptomatic males. The limit of detection of 16S PCR and MgPa PCR-assays were of 5 and 50 geq/µL, respectively. For the analyzed clinical samples, 3% (10/300) of female swabs and 24.5% (12/49) of urine samples from asymptomatic men were positive for M. genitalium by the two PCR assays. In contrast to the anticipated results, male urine samples had the highest positive rate. Two PCR assays for the detection of M. genitalium were implemented and successfully used on clinical samples, with the unexpected finding of a high positive rate in specimens from asymptomatic men. The current work will allow performing future studies of genetic and antigenic characterization of the circulating Mycoplasma genitalium-strains in Cuba, useful as vaccine immunogen.

Keywords : Mycoplasma genitalium; PCR; MgPa; 16S rRNA.

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