Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum biovar and genotype with mucopurulent cervicitis.

Objective To study the association of U. urealyticum biovar and genotype with nongonococcal, nonchlamydial mucopurulent cervicitis. Methods The study population consisted of two groups: patient group (226 female patients with nongonococcal, nonchlamydial mucopurulent cervicitis) and control group (118 healthy women). The biovar and genotype of U. urealyticum were identified in specimens positive for U. urealyticum culture by using PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. Results The most common genotype in both groups was mba 3/14 in biovar 1 with the detection rate being 30.98%(57/184) in patients with mucopurulent cervicitis and 43.42% (33/76) in the controls. A significant difference was observed in the prevalence of genotype 2B in biovar 2 between the patients and controls [16.30% (30/184) vs 6.58% (5/76), χ2 = 4.367, P= 0.037). The genotype 1, 3/14 and 6 in biovar 1 predominated in the controls with their total prevalence being 81.58%. Conclusion The genotype 2B in biovar 2 of U. urealyticum may be associated with nongonococcal, nonchlamydial mucopurulent cervicitis among female patients attending an STD clinic. Key words: Ureaplasma urealyticum;  Genotype;  Uterine cervicitis