Morphologie Observations of Mycoplasmas andNeisseria gonorrhoeaein Associated: Growth Patterns

Abstract

Mycoplasma hominis and T-colony mycoplasmas were observed growing among or developing within gonococcal colonies on primary isolation plates streaked for detection of N. gonorrhoeae in urogenital specimens. The frequency of such association of mycoplasmas with gonococci was as high as 84% among patients screened for gonorrhea in several Social Hygiene Clinics of the City of New York, Department of Health, Bureau of Venereal Disease Control. The individual morphology of both mycoplasmal and gonococcal colonies was characteristic when viewed through the light microscope, and their associated growth was maintained throughout numerous serial transfers on agar culture media. Electron microscopy of such interrelated colonies revealed nipple-like projections on the gonococcal cell walls, to which the mycoplasmas appeared to be firmly attached. These morphologic observations are presented and discussed.

New York City medium for enhanced recovery of Mycoplasma pneumoniae from clinical specimens

“…New York City (NYC) medium has also been reported to support the growth of various human mycoplasmas (5,7). Although Faur and her colleagues initially developed this medium for the isolation of pathogenic Neisseria spp.…”

Use of New York City medium for improved recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from clinical specimens

“…Evaluation of this medium has shown it to be comparable (11,24,25,30) to improved modifications of Thayer-Martin agar for the recovery of gonococci from clinical material. In addition, NYC medium has been reported to have the added advantage of supporting the growth ofurogenital mycoplasmas (8,11).…”