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What causes mycoplasmosis?
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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Causes of mycoplasmosis
Mycoplasmas belong to an independent class of microorganisms - more than 40 species of this family are known. Most of them cause diseases in animals and birds. In humans, there are basically 6 kinds of mycoplasmas: M. Pneumoniae, M. Hominis, M. Orale, M. Salivarium, M. Fermentans and T-mycoplasmas. Pathogenic include M. Pneumoniae, conditional-pathogenic - M. Hominis and T-group mycoplasmas. The other species are known as commensals. Mycoplasmas can cause damage to the respiratory system, heart, joints, central nervous system and urogenital system. Of all mycoplasmas, the most studied M. Pneumoniae is the causative agent of acute respiratory disease, focal pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, croup, polyarthritis, meningitis, and others.
Pathogenesis of mycoplasmosis
The entrance gates of infection are the mucous membranes of the trachea and bronchi. Mycoplasmas, adhering to the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract, destroy the bridges between the cells of the epithelium and disorganize the tissue architectonics. In the process, all new departments of the bronchial tree are gradually involved and, finally, alveolocytes, in the cytoplasm of which there are microcolonies of M. Pneumoniae. There are phenomena of interstitial pneumonia with thickening of interalveolar septa and possible development of bronchopneumonia. In severe cases, hematogenous dissemination with the introduction of mycoplasmas from the sites of primary localization to the liver, central nervous system, kidney and other organs is possible with the development of a clinical picture of hepatitis, meningitis, nephritis. In the emergence of bronchopulmonary lesions, secondary bacterial infection is of great importance.