The persistence of mycoplasmas in the urogenital tract of men in the Antarctic

Holmes, M.J.; Furr, Patricia M.; Taylor-Robinson, D.. 1974 The persistence of mycoplasmas in the urogenital tract of men in the Antarctic. Journal of Hygiene, 72 (3). 355-363. 10.1017/s0022172400023585

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022172400023585

Abstract/Summary

A series of meatal swabs, taken from 17 men over a period of 17 months during their tour at an Antarctic base was examined for mycoplasmas. The number of organisms isolated never exceeded 104 and not every specimen from each man yielded mycoplasmas. Nevertheless, Mycoplasma hominis was isolated from 71% and T-mycoplasmas from 59% of the men at some time during their stay. M. hominis persisted in the presence of serum IHA antibody titres of 1/64. Three subjects yielded only M. hominis and one only T-mycoplasmas. Six men had already spent a year at the base when the study began and mycoplasmas were still being isolated from some of them at the end of a 31 month period of isolation. The persistence of mycoplasmas in the male genital tract can therefore be independent of sexual contact. Two modes of persistence are suggested; either a few men act as carriers and reinfect the others by contaminating their environment, or as seems more likely, most men have chronic infections.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1017/s0022172400023585
ISSN:	0022-1724
NORA Subject Terms:	Health
Date made live:	19 Nov 2019 08:38 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/525928

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1017/s0022172400023585

ISSN:

0022-1724

NORA Subject Terms:

Health

Date made live:

19 Nov 2019 08:38 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/525928