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Role of ureaplasma urealyticum and mycoplasma hominis in spontaneous abortion

  • Chapter
Spontaneous Abortion

Part of the book series: Advances in Reproductive Health Care ((ARHE,volume 2))

Abstract

Mycoplasmas have the smallest size of all free living organisms. They lack a true cell wall and are incapable of synthesizing cell wall precursors. Cells are highly pleomorphic. Colonies on solid media are minute, their diameter ranging from 10 to 600 µm. They have a typical ‘fried egg’ appearance, which consists of an opaque central area (that grows down into the medium) surrounded by a translucent peripheral zone (Freundt, 1967). Mycoplasmas are neither bacteria nor viruses, as bacteria have a true cell wall or are able to produce cell wall precursors and viruses grow in cell cultures only. Mycoplasmas belong to the class of Mollicutes of which there is only one order, i.e. the Mycoplasmatales. These are divided into two families, Mycoplasmataceae and Acholeplasmataceae. Mycoplasmataceae require sterol for growth; this compound is not necessary for the growth of Acholeplasmataceae. The Mycoplasmataceae have two genera: genus Mycoplasma and genus Ureaplasma (Table 15.1).

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Authors
  1. W. Foulon
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  2. A. Naessens
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. IVF/Andrology International, Reproductive Health Center (USA), 78 Switsong, 29455, Kiawah Island, SC, USA

    E. S. E. Hafez (Executive Director) (Executive Director)

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Foulon, W., Naessens, A. (1984). Role of ureaplasma urealyticum and mycoplasma hominis in spontaneous abortion. In: Hafez, E.S.E. (eds) Spontaneous Abortion. Advances in Reproductive Health Care, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9789-5_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9789-5_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-9791-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-9789-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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