The Effect of Growth and Urea Concentration on Ammonia Production by a Urea-hydrolysing Mycoplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum)

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Abstract
The rate of accumulation of ammonium ion in cultures of U. urealyticum was independent of the growth rate and of the initial urea concentration above 0.025% in the medium, although the quantity of ammonium ion accumulating did depend on the initial urea concentration. Ammonium ions accumulated at a similar rate in U. urealyticum cultures of rapidly and slowly growing organisms. Viable but non-growing ureaplasmas also produced ammonia in complete medium at a lower temperature than usual (25.degree. C) or in an inadequate growth medium at 37.degree. C. The rate of ammonium ion accumulation in a dying culture depended on the number of viable organisms present; this is relevant to diagnostic methods for ureaplasmas which depend on detecting ammonia colorimetrically.

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