Mycoplasmas in human pyelonephritis: demonstration of antibodies in serum and urine

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Abstract
This study was conducted to elucidate, by serological examination, the etiological significance of mycoplasmas isolated from the upper urinary tract of patients with pyelonephritis. The occurrence of antibodies in patients with acute pyelonephritis, chronic pyelonephritis with or without exacerbation, or noninfectious urinary tract disease was compared by the indirect hemagglutination method. Antibody response was demonstrated significantly more often in patients yielding growth of Mycoplasma hominis from the upper urinary tract than in patients not yielding growth. Antibodies against M. hominis were demonstrated in ureteric and bladder urine from 3 patients with acute pyelonephritis and from 1 patient with exacerbation of chronic pyelonephritis. M. hominis was isolated from the upper urinary tract of all 4 patients. Urine antibodies could not be demonstrated in any other cases. It seems highly possible that M. hominis may play a role in pyelonephritis of humans. The investigations did not disclose a similar role for Ureaplasma urealyticum.

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