Molecular determination of Mycoplasma pneumoniae species caused by respiratory tract infections

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is responsible for 10 to 20% of community-acquired pneumonia cases and has been associated with acute asthma exacerbations. The use of a 16S rDNA- based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was investigated. In our study, sputum samples from 100 patients divided into 57 male and 43 female their age's ranges from 20-70 years old, with respiratory illness and evidence of pneumonia were analyzed by PCR . Sputum samples from 40 healthy individuals that distributed into 16 females which formed 40% and 24 males which formed 60% from the total number of control group also their age's ranges from 20-70 years old. Result 26 out of 100 patients clinically diagnosed with respiratory tract infections were showed positive results for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection included 16(61,54%) males out of 26(100%) patients, and 10(38.46%) females out of 26(100%) patients. In successful singleplex PCR reaction, the 16S rDNA product of 277 bp molecular weight was observed, upon gel electrophoresis, its band was located between 200-300 bp bands of the 100 bp DNA ladder indicating the presence of this gene. Human betaglobin gene was included as an internal control to allow assessment of the specimen quality and the nucleic acid extraction as well as the amplification processes. Our results indicate that the use of 16S rDNA by singleplex PCR technique suitable and rapid method for detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae associated with different pneumonia cases.