Skip to main content
Log in

Newly recovered and delineated microbial species of the human genital tract

Neu entdeckte und definierte mikrobielle Spezies des Genitaltrakts beim Menscher

  • Addendum II
  • The Impact Of Microbiology On Clinical Problem International Symposium Weitenburg/Tübingen, June 1988
  • Published:
Infection Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Several new genitourinaryBacteroides species and the newMobiluncus/Falcivibrio have been described since 1977. The normal vaginal flora consists mainly of lactobacilli and other “non-pathogenic” aerobes and anaerobes. Under unknown circumstances, organisms may increase in number, displacing the normal lactobacillus flora and raising the vaginal pH. This renders a more favourable biotope for organisms with a pH optimum in the neutral or alkaline range. Overgrowth ofGardnerella, Bacteroides, B-streptococci andMobilunscus/Falcivibrio is indicative of vaginosis, which is not a typical sexual disease, but may be sexually transmitted. Proper treatment includes the male partner. No overall-valid therapy exists, but metronidazole is the drug of choice ifBacteroides orGardnerella form the disturbed flora, and beta-lactams are the drugs of choice whenMobiluncus or aerobes are involved.

Zusammenfassung

Seit dem Jahr 1977 wurden verschiedene neueBacteroides-Arten und das GenusMobiluncus/Falcivibrio aus dem Urogenitalsystem isoliert und beschrieben. Die normale vaginale Flora ist hauptsächlich aus Lactobacilli und anderen „nicht-pathogenen“ Aerobiern und Anerobiern zusammengesetzt. Unter noch unbekannten Umständen können sich die Organismen vermehren und dabei die normale Lactobacillusflora verdrängen und den pH erhöhen. Dies bereitet ein günstigeres Milieu für Organismen mit einem pH-Optimum im neutralen oder basischen Bereich. Eine Wachstumsvermehrung vonGardnerella, Bacteroides, B-Streptokokken undMobiluncus/Falicivibrio deutet auf eine Vaginosis hin. Dies ist keine typische Geschlechtskrankheit, wird aber möglicherweise sexuell übertragen. Deshalb schließt die korrekte Behandlung den Partner ein. Es gibt keine Universaltherapie, aber Metronidazol ist das Mittel der Wahl bei durchBacteroides oderGardnerella verursachten Flora-Veränderungen, und Beta-lactame gelten als Mittel der Wahl bei durchMobiluncus oder Aerobier bedingten Veränderungen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Loesche, W. J., Socransky, S. S., Gibbons, R. J. Bacteroides oralis, proposed new species isolated from the oral cavity of man. J. Bacteriol. 88 (1964) 1329–1337.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Holdeman, L. V., Johnson, R. L. Bacteroides disiens sp. nov. andBacteroides bivius sp. nov. from human clinical infection. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 27 (1977) 337–345.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hill, G. B., Gall, S. A., Kohan, A. P., Ayers, O. M.: Abstracts Annu. Mtg. Americ. Soc. Microbiol. (1978) C 32.

  4. Hammann, R., Kronibus, A., Lang, N., Werner, H. Quantitative studies on the vaginal flora of asymptomatic women and patients with vaginitis and vaginosis. Zbl. Bakt. Hyg. A. 265 (1987) 451–461.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Shah, H. N., Collins, M. D. Bacteriodes buccalis, sp. nov., andBacteroides pentosaceus, sp. nov., new species of the genusBacteroides from the oral cavity. Zbl. Bakt. Hyg., I. Abt. Orig. C2 (1981) 235–241.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kornman, K. S., Holt, S. C. Physiological and ultrastructural characterization of a newBacteroides species (Bacteroides capillus) isolated from severe localized periodontitis. J. Periodont. Res. 16 (1981) 542–555.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Holdeman, L. V., Johnson, J. L. Bacteroides disiens sp. nov. andBacteroides bivius sp. nov. from human clinical infections. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 27 (1977) 337–345.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Johnson, J. L., Holdeman, L. V. Bacteroides capillus Kornman andHolt andBacteroides pentosaceus Shah andCollins, later synonyms ofBacteroides buccae Holdman et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 35 (1985) 114.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Watanabe, J., Benno, Y., Mitsuoka, T. Taxonomic study ofBacteroides oralis and related organisms and proposal ofBacteroides veroralis sp. nov., Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 33 (1983) 57–64.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Spiegel, C. A. Susceptibility ofMobiluncus species to 23 antimicrobial agents and 15 other compounds. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 31 (1987) 249–252.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Johnston, B. L., Edelstein, M. A., Holloway, E. Y., Finegold, S. M. Bacteriologic and clinical study ofBacteroides oris andBacteroides buccae. J. Clin. Microbiol. 25 (1987) 492–493.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Shah, H. N., Collins, M. D. Proposal for reclassification ofBacteroides asaccharolyticus, Bacteroides gingivalis, andBacteroides endodontalis in a new genusPorphyromonas. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 38 (1988) 128–131.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Holdeman, L. V., Johnson, J. L. Description ofBacteroides loescheii sp. nov. and emendation of the descriptions ofBacteroides melaninogenicus (Oliver andWherry)Roy andKelly 1939 andBacteroides denticola,Shah andCollins 1981. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 32 (1982) 399–409.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Johnson, J. L., Holdeman, L. V. Bacteroides intermedius com. nov. and description ofBacteroides corporis sp. nov. andBacteroides levii sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 33 (1983) 15–25.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Duerden, B. I. Anaerobes in non-gonococcal urethritis, balanoposthitis and genital ulcer. In:Borriello, S. P., Hardie, J. M. (eds.): Recent advances in anaerobic bacteriology — Proceedings of the 4th Anaerobic Discussion Group Symposium, July 26–28, 1985. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, Lancaster 1987, pp. 231–241.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Chen, K. C. S., Forsyth, P. S., Buchanan, T. M., Holmes, K. K.: Amine content of vaginal fluid from untreated and treated patients with non-specific vaginitis. J. Clin. Invest. (1979) 828–835.

  17. Hammann, R., Lang, N., Werner, H. Die Rolle vonGardnerella vaginalis und Anaerobiern — Ätiologie der unspezifischen Vaginitis. Fortschr. Med. 102 (1984) 255–258.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Spiegel, C. A., Roberts, M. C. Mobiluncus curtisii subsp. curtisii sp. nov.,Mobiluncus curtisii subsp. holmesii subsp. nov. andMobiluncus mulieris sp. nov., curved rods from the human vagina. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 34 (1984) 177–184.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hammann, R., Kronibus, A., Viebahn, A., Brandis, H. Falcivibrio grandis gen. nov. sp. nov., andFalcivibrio vaginalis gen. nov. sp. nov., a new genus and species to accommodate anaerobic motile curved rods formerly described as “Virbrio mulieris” (Prévot 1940).Breed et al. 1948. System. Appl. Microbiol. 5 (1984) 81–96.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Roberts, M. C., Baron, E. J., Finegold, S. M., Kenney, G. E. Antigenic distinctiveness ofMobiluncus curtisii andMobiluncus mulieris. J. Clin. Microbiol. 21 (1985) 891–893.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Carlone, G. M., Thomas, M. L., Arko, R. J., Guerrant, G. O., Moss, C. W., Swenson, J. M., Morse, S. A. Cell wall characteristics ofMobiluncus species. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 36 (1986) 288–296.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Roberts, M. C., Hillier, S. L., Schoenknecht, F. D., Holmes, K. K. Comparison of Gram stain, DNA probe, and culture for the identification of species ofMobiluncus in female genital specimens. J. Infect. Dis. 152 (1985) 74–77.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Teo, C., Kwong, L., Benn, R. Incidence of motile, curved anaerobic rods (Mobiluncus species) in vaginal secretion. Pathol. 19 (1987) 193–196.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Moi, H., Danielsson, S., Schoenknecht, F. Anin vitro study of the attachment to vaginal epithelial cells of anaerobic curved rods,Bacteroides bivius andBacteroides disiens. In:Mårdh, P. A., Taylor-Robinson, D. (eds.): Bacterial vaginosis. Almqvist and Wiksell International, Stockholm 1984, pp. 185–190.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Moi, H., Danielsson, D. Studies on rabbit hyperimmune, patient and blood donor serum with regards to bacterial activity and serum antibodies against anaerobic curved rods from patients with bacterial vaginosis. In:Mårdh, P. A., Taylor-Robinson, D. (eds.): Bacterial vaginosis. Almqvist and Wiksell International, Stockholm 1984, pp. 87–91.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Glupczynski, Y., Labbé, M., Crokaert, F., Pepersack, F., van der Auwera, P., Yourassowsky, E. Isolation ofMobiluncus in four cases of extragenital infections in adult women. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. 3 (1984) 433–435.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sturm, A. W., Sikkenk, P. J. H. Anaerobic curved rods from a breast abscess. Lancet II (1984) 1216.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Hammann, R. A reassessment of the microbial flora of the female genital tract, with special reference to the occurrence ofBacteroides species. J. Med. Microbiol. 15 (1982) 293–302.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hammann, R. Isolation, characterization and ecological distribution of recently recognized propionic acid-negativeBacteroides species from human sources. Zbl. Hyg. A 259 (1985) 295–306.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hammann, R. Newly recovered and delineated microbial species of the human genital tract. Infection 17, 188–193 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644028

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644028

Keywords

Navigation