Characteristics of motile curved rods in vaginal secretions

Abstract

Diseases, General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6BESUMMARY. Motile curved rods seen in vaginal secretions have been isolated on Columbia agar supplemented with 5% human blood and vitamin K. Growth occurred anaerobically and in 5% oxygen but not in more aerobic conditions. There were two distinct groups of these organisms, distinguishable by morphology, biochemical activity and susceptibility to metronidazole. All isolates were sensitive to a wide range of antimicrobial agents, with the exception of nalidixic acid and polymyxin, but one group was resistant to metronidazole. There was little difference between the results of tests of susceptibility to aminoglycosides or to metronidazole performed in anaerobic and microaerophilic conditions. Motile curved rods were isolated from 18 of 80 patients with a clinical diagnosis of non-specific vaginitis, but from only two of 39 without the disease.

Susceptibility of Mobiluncus species to 23 antimicrobial agents and 15 other compounds

“…Mobiluncus curtisii and M. mulieris (11), curved, motile, anaerobic rods, are clearly associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) (10,12,13). Although their role in BV is not yet understood, reports of their presence in up to 50% of women with (10) and only 0 to 5% without (10,12) BV have provoked a great deal of interest in these organisms.…”

“…Although their role in BV is not yet understood, reports of their presence in up to 50% of women with (10) and only 0 to 5% without (10,12) BV have provoked a great deal of interest in these organisms. Several researchers have also reported that most or all strains of short curved rods (M. curtisii) (2,4,9,10,12) and some strains of long curved rods (M. mulieris) (2,4,10,12) are resistant to metronidazole, the drug of choice for treating BV. One could speculate that the presence of metronidazoleresistant Mobiluncus spp.…”

Cell Wall Characteristics of Mobiluncus Species

“…Recently, Hammann et al (15) proposed a new genus (Falcivibrio) containing two species (Falcivibrio grandis and Falcivibrio vaginalis) for organisms previously designated " Vibrio mulieris.' ' Curved anaerobic bacteria similar to species of Mobiluncus have received much attention (1,4,17,27,30,35,37,39,41,45,48), although the taxonomic position of members of this genus is still unresolved (15,43).…”

“…Hydroxylated fatty acids or aldehyde fatty acids were not detected in acid hydrolysates of crude cell membrane preparations. (1,4,17,27,30,35,37,39,41,45,48), although the taxonomic position of members of this genus is still unresolved (15,43).…”

“…Hydroxylated fatty acids or aldehyde fatty acids were not detected in acid hydrolysates of crude cell membrane preparations. (1,4,17,27,30,35,37,39,41,45,48), although the taxonomic position of members of this genus is still unresolved (15,43).The genus Mobiluncus has been tentatively assigned to the family Bacteroidaceae (43), which includes obligately anaerobic straight, curved, or helical gram-negative and gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria (18). The Gram reactions of strains of Mobiluncus are typically gram negative or variable (15, 43), although electron micrographs show that structurally these organisms have gram-positive cell walls (41, 43) and lack an outer membrane.…”