PERSISTENCE OF MYCOPLASMA HOMINIS AND UREAPLASMA UREALYTICUM IN ORGANISM OF INFECTED ANIMALS

Aim. To study the possibility of existence of antigenemia during urogenital mycoplasmal infections by detection the antigens of agents in blood and viscera of infected animals. Materials and methods. Rabbits and mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum , their antigens and DNAs. Samples of blood and visceral organs were studied by several methods: cultural with use of standard media, PCR, RT-PCR, indirect hemagglutination test, and immunofluorescence assay for detection of antibodies. Results. Bacteremia with M.hominis develops during 2 months after inoculation in rabbits and 3 weeks after inoculation in mice. Antigens of M.hominis and U.urealyticum were detected in serum and visceral organs significantly frequently than live cells and DNAs. Prolonged preservation of the antigens in animals' blood and viscera after intraperitoneal administration of «pure» antigens points to the presence of true mycoplasmal antigenemia. Forms of existence of antigens in organism are different — they can represent corpuscular antigens as well as soluble molecular compounds circulating in blood both in free state and in structure of immune complexes. Antigens as well as live cells are preserved in all studied organs. Conclusion. Inoculation of rabbits and mice with M.hominis or U.urealyticum resulted in development of generalized infection with persistence of the agent in all studied organs during initial phase of infection and predominant persistence in organs of immunogenesis during later phases.

Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, persistence, live cells, antigens, DNA