Detection of Mycoplasma hominis antibodies by three different techniques, application to women with pelvic inflammatory disease.
Mycoplasma hominis, a mycoplasma potentially isolated from the genital tract of healthy women, seems to have some role in pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID). Three serologic techniques were developed to detect antibodies to M. hominis: ELISA (IgG, IgM), microimmunofluorescence (MIF) and Western blot. Rabbit and human control sera were used to establish the standard assay conditions. ELISA proved to be more sensitive but less specific than MIF. Cross-reactivity with antibodies to M. pneumoniae existed with ELISA but not with MIF. Twenty six and 60 kDa proteins were responsible for that cross-reactivity, as assessed by Western blot analysis. Among 33 patients with PID, 18 to 35 year old, 67% had antibodies to M. hominis by ELISA and 33% by MIF. Among 52 age comparable healthy women, 44 and 13% were positive for M. hominis by ELISA and MIF respectively. The Western blot analysis showed heterogeneity in the antibody response to M. hominis, but a 76 kDa protein reacted with half of the tested sera. Our study agrees with some role for M. hominis in PID. M. hominis was certainly the primary pathogen in one case, played a role that was probable in seven cases, and possible in three patients.
Constans
J
J
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux.
Poutiers
F
F
Renaudin
H
H
Leng
J J
JJ
Bebear
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial