MYCOPLASMA-SPERMATOPHILUM, A NEW SPECIES ISOLATED FROM HUMAN SPERMATOZOA AND CERVIX

A mycoplasma isolated from human spermatozoa and a human cervix was shown to be serologically distinct from 98 previously recognized Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma spp. Six mycoplasma colonies were cloned and examined in detail for morphology, growth, and biochemical characteristics; five of these were from sperm samples and one was from a cervix. These strains were closely related and had the following properties: guanine-plus-cytosine content of 32 mol%, requirement for sterol, and anaerobic growth. Glucose was not metabolized, and arginine and urea were not hydrolyzed. Strain AH159 (= NCTC 11720) is the type strain of a new species, Mycoplasma spermatophilum.