SEROLOGICAL RESPONSE TO UREAPLASMA-UREALYTICUM IN THE NEONATE

A serovar-specific antibody response to Ureaplasma urealyticum was obs erved in stillborns, neonates, and mothers by means of the modified me tabolic inhibition test. Elevated levels of ureaplasma antibody were f ound in cases of stillbirth and neonatal respiratory disease. There wa s a higher risk of mortality among neonates with respiratory disease w ho had elevated levels of ureaplasma antibody. IgG and IgM serovar-spe cific antibody responses to U. urealyticum serovars were confirmed by the immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence assays. In contrast to ELI SA-based assays that use soluble membrane proteins as antigen, these t hree assays use whole intact cells. These observations suggest that th e serovar-specific antibody response may be associated with the ureapl asma extramembranous carbohydrate (lypoglycan) coat, which comes off d uring centrifugation. With the immunoperoxidase assay, a heel-prick bl ood sample (20 muL) can be screened for 16 IgM or IgG + IgM + IgA (com bined) responses in 4 hours. The predictive value of IgM antibody for U. urealyticum infection and other mycoplasma infections and for the r isk of stillbirth and development of chronic lung disease should now b e assessed.