Using PCR assay for detection and subtyping of Ureaplasma parvum in women with recurrent abortion

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate the occurrence of Ureaplasma parvum in women with recurrent abortion and to determine the distribution of U. parvum serovars (1, 3, 6, 14) in women with recurrent abortion by conventional PCR technique. In total, 130 samples including vaginal bleeding, vaginal swab, and urine were collected from women with recurrent abortion and 40 samples including vaginal swab and urine from control women without recurrent abortion. Through the study, two types of media were used, Ureaplasma broth (IH Broth) and Ureaplasma agar (IH Agar). The positive isolates for Ureaplasma spp. were investigated by conventional PCR technique for identification of U. parvum and subtyping to their serovars (1, 3, 6, 14). The results revealed the U. parvum was identified in 29.6% from the patient group and 11% from the control group. U. parvum isolates were further subtyped using PCR, the results showed that serovar 3 was the most frequent isolate in a proportion of 42.8%, with serovar 1 (28.5%), serovar 6 (14.2%), and serovar 14 (14.2%) in the patient group, but in the control group only serovar 1 was isolated in a proportion of 11%. These results evidently indicate that U. parvum may be an important etiologic agent for recurrent abortion.