Mycoplasma colonization in primate animal laboratories

The role of bacterial and protozoal infections in reproductive failure and fetal loss has been difficult to establish in humans. This study was done in 78 female primates to determine if ureaplasma urealyticum was present. The highest overall incidence of positive cultures (36.4%) occurred among the chimpanzees, who also had the highest number of breeders (i.e., sexually active females.) This suggests that the organisms may be transmitted sexually. An opportunity is now available to study the role of ureaplasma urealyticum in reproductive problems, to determine the exact nature of its pathogenicity.