Abstract

A total of 120 women attending the outpatient clinic of the obstetric and gynecology department of Basrah General Hospital, were evaluated for the role of genital mycoplasmas in certain infectious female genital conditions during the period from December, 1st 2003 to Qctober, 2nd 2004. High vagina and endocervix swabs were cultured. Five species of genital mycoplasmas were isolated and identified on modified PPLO medium, the characteristics and biochemical properties of them were fit with those of Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, M.fermentans, M.genitalium and M.penetrans in which the last three species were identified for the first time in Iraq. M.hominis, U.urealyticum, M.genitalium and M.penetrans were more frequently distributed in age group 20-39 years, and in women with lower socioeconomic status. A significant difference was foundi n the isolation of both M.hominis and M.genitalium from non-pregnant. Also, a significant difference was noted in isolation rates of M.hominis, M.fermentans and M.penetrans from pregnant women at different gestational periods. A statistically significant difference at the level of (Plt;0.01) was found in isolation of both U.urealyticum and M.genitalium from endocervix region.