Elli Jansson

Isolation of a mycoplasma from sarcoid tissue

Using a modified cell-free culture medium, a mycoplasma was isolated from sarcoid lymph nodes in two cases and from sarcoid skin lesions in four out of seven cases of chronic sarcoidosis. Growth inhibition tests showed that the isolates were related to Mycoplasma orale type 1. By the indirect haemagglutination method, 244 cases of definite or probable sarcoidosis, 160 patients with other diseases, and 355 blood donors were tested for antibodies against an isolated mycoplasma (strain 215-M). Titres [unk] 16 were found in 14% of the patients with sarcoidosis and in 8% of the patients with other diseases but only in 0·6% of the blood donors. The proportion of patients with high antibody titres among those with sarcoidosis and erythema nodosum was smaller (8%) than among those with other forms of sarcoidosis (17%). The role of the mycoplasmas isolated from sarcoid tissues remains obscure, but it is possible that these organisms are only an expression of altered immunity in sarcoidosis.

Mycoplasmas and Arthritis

At least 13 mycoplasma species cause arthritis in animals. In some cases it remains chronic, and in particular Mycoplasma hyorhinis in swine and Mycoplasma synoviae in poultry clinically and histologically resemble rheumatoid arthritis in man. Of patients with serologically verified Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections 0.9% had arthritis. Usually it is mild, but may sometimes be the dominant clinical feature. This mycoplasma has twice been cultured from the synovial fluid, as has Ureaplasma urealyticum. A few scientists have succeeded in isolating fastidious mycoplasmas from joint fluid specimens taken from human subjects with acute and chronic arthritis. Their subcultivation has often been difficult or unsuccessful. With the new methods available, renewed attempts to enlighten the possible role of mycoplasmas in human joint disease could now usefully be made.

Mycoplasma Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sera of 100 patients under examination at the Outpatient Department of the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital were studied by the indirect hemagglutination technique, using both mycoplasma reference strains, and isolates from RA and SLE as antigens. The series consisted of five groups: I, definite RA (49 patients); II, probable RA (11); III, possible RA or nonspecific inflammatory arthritis (34); IV, osteoarthrosis (2); V, Reiters disease (4). Mycoplasma antibodies in titres of 16 or higher were encountered in groups I-IV in 26, 8, 19, and one case respectively. Twenty-one out of 106 blood donors had antibodies against an isolate from RA and/or M. arthritidis strain PG 6. The titres found were 16 or 32, except in two cases, 128. In the definite RA group, 21 out of 26 patients possessing mycoplasma antibodies, showed titres of 16 or higher against isolates from RA and/or SLE, 12 against M. arthritidis strain PG 6 and/or Campo, 8 against M. fermentans, and 6 against a T-strain from NGU. Antibodies against M. arthritidis strain Campo were found more often than against strain PG 6. The longer the duration of the arthritic symptoms was, the more frequent seemed also to be the occurrence of mycoplasma antibodies.

Scanning-beam electron microscopy of mycoplasma isolated from rheumatoid arthritis

Scanning-beam electron microscopic studies on an isolate from definite rheumatoid arthritis are presented.