Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Generating Whole Bacterial Genomes from Clinical Samples using a Target Enrichment Workflow
10:44

Generating Whole Bacterial Genomes from Clinical Samples using a Target Enrichment Workflow

Published on: August 15, 2025

Molecular epidemiology of selected sexually transmitted infections

Hamid Jalal1, Andrew Delaney, Neil Bentley

  • 1Clinical Microbiology & Public Health Laboratory, Box 236, Addenbrooke's Hospital Hills Road, Cambridge, UK.

International Journal of Molecular Epidemiology and Genetics
|September 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Ureaplasma parvum (UP) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) are common in the genital tract, with UP more prevalent in women. Their high prevalence suggests they may be commensals rather than pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Genitourinary Medicine

Background:

  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) are known genital pathogens.
  • The role of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Ureaplasma parvum (UP) in genital pathology remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of common genital infections including UU and UP.
  • To compare the prevalence of these infections between genders and across age groups.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study of 1,718 patients attending a Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinic.
  • Real-time PCR assay modified for simultaneous detection of TV, NG, MG, CT, UU, and UP DNA in genital swabs.

Main Results:

  • Ureaplasma parvum (UP) was detected in 37% and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) in 16% of patients.
  • Infections were more prevalent in women (70%) than men (38%), and decreased with age.
  • UP prevalence was significantly higher in women (54%) than men (18%).

Conclusions:

  • The high prevalence of UU and UP suggests they may act as commensals in the genital tract.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific role of UU and UP in genital pathology.
Keywords:
Chlamydia trachomatisMycoplasma genitaliumNeisseria gonorrhoeaePCRTrichomonas vaginalisUreaplasma parvumUreaplasma urealyticuepidemiology

Related Concept Videos

Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
Modern Molecular Taxonomy01:29

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
Introduction to Epidemiology01:26

Introduction to Epidemiology

Epidemiology, known as the cornerstone of public health, involves studying the distribution and determinants of health-related events in defined populations and applying these insights to control health issues. This is essential for understanding how diseases spread, identifying populations at greater risk, and implementing measures to control or prevent outbreaks. Epidemiology addresses not only infectious diseases but also non-communicable conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease,...
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy01:20

Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

Molecular taxonomy has revolutionized the understanding and classification of bacteria, providing precise insights into their diversity, evolutionary relationships, and ecological roles. By utilizing molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, researchers have made significant strides in various fields related to bacterial studies.Resolving Taxonomic AmbiguitiesMolecular taxonomy has been instrumental in distinguishing closely related bacterial species initially thought to...