Molecular detection ofUreaplasma urealyticum infection from clinical urogenital swabs

Abstract

A simple nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) was developed for detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection based on the PCR amplification of the urease gene (UU1/UU2 Test). DNA was extracted from urogenital swabs and a 225-bp long DNA fragment was amplified by PCR. NAAT was compared to the commercial amplification kit for sexually transmitted disease reference assay. The sensitivity and specificity of the UU1/UU2 Test were determined to be 100 and 98.9%, respectively. The overall prevalence rate in this group of patients was found to be about 236 per 1000 (283 and 166 per 1000 in females and males, respectively). These data demonstrate that UU1/UU2 Test is suitable for effective epidemiological screening and/or diagnostic practice.

A Case of Rectal Ureaplasma Infection and Implications for Testing in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: The P18 Cohort Study

“…12 Although this participant's infection was detected using culture methods, Ureaplasma can also be detected molecularly. 13,14 There are some data that NAATs may be more sensitive than standard culture (sensitivity = 92.4%, specificity = 94.8% in one study of vaginal specimens). 15 Given the significant incidence of Ureaplasma as etiology for NGU and the significance of extragenital STIs in MSM, further research on the value of screening for urethral and rectal Ureaplasma infections in YMSM is merited, especially for those engaging in condomless anal intercourse.…”