Molecular Detection and Prevalence of <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> and <i>M. genitalium</i> Among Fertile and Infertile Individuals in Southern Iran
| Author | Neda Fazeli | en |
| Author | Babak Kheirkhah | en |
| Author | Nadia Kazemipour | en |
| Orcid | Neda Fazeli [0000-0002-0921-9194] | en |
| Orcid | Babak Kheirkhah [0000-0001-8768-1977] | en |
| Orcid | Nadia Kazemipour [0000-0002-1569-5744] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-03-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Mycoplasma hominis and M. genitalium have been associated with reproductive health issues and may contribute to infertility, although causal links remain unclear. Data on their prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility in southern Iran are limited. Objectives: To assess the molecular prevalence, species distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility of M. hominis and M. genitalium among fertile and infertile individuals in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, southern Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2024, 200 participants (100 infertile and 100 fertile) provided clinical samples — 100 semen samples from men and 100 endocervical swabs from women. Fertility status was clinically confirmed for all participants. Samples were enriched in pleuropneumonia-like organism (PPLO) broth, analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S rRNA gene for genus-level detection, followed by multiplex PCR for species identification. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for azithromycin, erythromycin, and moxifloxacin were determined using the 96-well microdilution method. Data were analyzed using SPSS v29, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among 200 samples, 41 (20.5%) were positive for Mycoplasma: 22 men (20 infertile, 2 fertile) and 19 women (16 infertile, 3 fertile). Multiplex PCR identified 26 isolates as M. genitalium (12 infertile men, 2 fertile men; 10 infertile women, 2 fertile women) and 15 isolates as M. hominis (8 infertile men, 0 fertile men; 6 infertile women, 1 fertile woman). Although minor differences were observed between sexes (22% of men vs 19% of women), these were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Macrolide resistance was detected in 6 M. genitalium and 4 M. hominis isolates, while moxifloxacin resistance was rare, found in only one M. genitalium isolate. Conclusions: Mycoplasma hominis and M. genitalium are present in both fertile and infertile individuals in southern Iran, with higher macrolide resistance in M. genitalium. While these organisms may influence reproductive health, causal associations cannot be confirmed. Routine molecular detection and species-specific antimicrobial testing are recommended, and larger longitudinal studies are needed to clarify their potential role in infertility. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jjm-167346 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jjm/articles/167346 | en |
| Keyword | <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> | en |
| Keyword | <i>Mycoplasma genitalium</i> | en |
| Keyword | Infertility | en |
| Keyword | Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction | en |
| Keyword | Microbial Sensitivity Test | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Molecular Detection and Prevalence of <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> and <i>M. genitalium</i> Among Fertile and Infertile Individuals in Southern Iran | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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