Isolation and serological typing of ureaplasma in human saliva

Ureaplasmas were detected in the saliva of 3.5 per cent (12/342) of subjects. A total of 60 isolated strains did not revert to bacterial forms on repeated subculture in antibacterial agent-free media, failed to grow in serum-free media, were inhibited by digitonin and hydrolysed urea but not glucose or arginine. Twenty-five strains were divided into serotypes: I (5), II (3), III (5), IV (4) and VI (8 strains). Ureaplasmas of serotype I, II, III, IV and VI were harboured by 2, 1, 1, 1 and 3 subjects respectively and the remaining 4 subjects harboured 2 different serotypes. Ureaplasma-positive subjects were young and middle-aged and, except for 1 subject with mandibular arthrosis, suffered from periodontitis, pericoronitis, gingivitis and maxillary sinusitis. These accounted for only 6.1 per cent (11/180) of the series of subjects examined.