MYCOPLASMA-FERMENTANS DNA IS INFREQUENTLY DETECTED IN URINE SPECIMENSFROM RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Mycoplasma fermentans is a likely causative agent of HIV-associated ne phropathy. In a pilot study, M. fermentans DNA was detected with polym erase chain reaction (PCR) in urine samples from renal allograft recip ients; nine (39.1%) out of 23 renal allograft recipients (most of whom had chronic allograft rejection) and none of the 20 controls, were in fected with M. fermentans. A cross-sectional study was conducted to in vestigate the prevalence of M. fermentans in urine samples from renal allograft recipients. Midstream urine samples were centrifuged at 13 0 00 x g, purified with QIAamp and tested with PCR using RW004/RW005 and an internal control to screen for the presence of inhibitors. Of the 264 participants recruited, 263 completed the questionnaire (172 men, 92 women); 53 had chronic renal allograft rejection, 106 had chronic r enal dysfunction without rejection, 69 had a normal renal allograft fo r more than 3 months and 35 had a renal allograft for less than 3 mont hs. All urine samples yielded positive results for the internal contro l. Mycoplasma fermentans DNA was detected once in prospectively collec ted urine samples. The only individual infected with M. fermentans was also seropositive for HIV-1. Th is study demonstrates that M. ferment ans can be at most sporadically detected in urine from patients living with a renal allograft but is not implicated in chronic rejection of allograft. (C) 1998 Academic Press.