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Mobiluncus
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Mobiluncus (genus Mobiluncus) are bacteria, motile, anaerobic, gram-negative (or gram-positive) curved rods.
Mobiluncus have a fermentative metabolism, are catalase-negative. They are isolated from the vagina and rectum. They are one of the microbial components involved in the development of bacterial vaginosis.
In the human urogenital organs, there are 2 representatives of the genus Mobiluncus - Mobiluncus curtisii and Mobiluncus mulieris. In practice, you can come across the term Mobiluncus species (spp.), which denotes the presence of one or both microorganisms. Most researchers believe that Mobiluncus curtisii is pathogenic (harmful), capable of causing inflammatory processes in the human urogenital organs.
When does mobiluncus occur?
Mobiluncus is most often found in bacterioscopic examination of vaginal discharge in women with bacterial vaginosis (15-21%) and in healthy women (4%). When examined by PCR, the frequency of its detection increases significantly and reaches 80-85% in women with bacterial vaginosis and up to 30-38% in healthy women. However, it is worth noting that Mobiluncus mulieris, a less pathogenic microorganism, is still more common in healthy women. There are studies showing colonization of the rectum by mobiluncus in women, which can lead to contamination of the vagina and transmission during anal sex. Mobiluncus spp. is determined together with other representatives of the microflora involved in the formation of bacterial vaginosis: vaginal gardnerella, bacteroids, peptostreptococci, other anaerobic bacteria, ureaplasma, mycoplasmas.
Some studies show a pathogenic role of mobiluncus in the development of pelvic inflammatory diseases in women.
There are data on the detection of Mobiluncus spp. in men with urogenital tract pathology (non-gonococcal urethritis, prostatitis, orchiepididymitis).
Why is it important to identify mobiluncus?
Mobiluncus is considered one of the markers (specific feature) of bacterial vaginosis and its detection indicates the presence of this disease in a woman, which is especially important for the diagnosis of asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis. Therefore, the definition of mobiluncus morphotypes is included in the Nugent scoring system for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis.
The role of mobiluncus in the development of recurrent forms of bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory diseases has been proven. Targeted treatment will help prevent relapses of bacterial vaginosis and the development of complications.
A special feature of Mobiluncus spp. is its high resistance to metronidazole, a traditional treatment for bacterial vaginosis. Detection of mobiluncus allows avoiding ineffective treatment and prescribing specific treatment in time.
How is mobiluncus diagnosed?
Two diagnostic methods are used: bacterioscopic examination of vaginal discharge with Gram staining and PCR (polymerase chain reaction).
Serological methods (ELISA) and cultural methods are not used to determine the presence of mobiluncus.