Unusual case of mercury poisoning.

Abstract

Mycoplasmsa hominis in Abortion-Jones SMICiAL JOURNALa foetal tissue response.The organism may also be capable of infecting a living foctus, and there is evidence of this in Case 2. Infection with M. horninis probably more commonly extends only as far as the maternal genital tract, contributing to pyrexia associated with delivery.Of seven patients who aborted and who had M. hominis in the vagina, three developed a rise in antibody titre (Table II).These patients had a pyrexial illness, and presumably an infection of the genital tract due at least in part to M. hominis.The appearance of growth-inhibiting antibody, which does not persist for long in the circulation, is consistent with recent infection (Jones and Sequeira, 1966).It is of interest to note that when mycoplasmas are introduced into the bovine uterus, endometritis and endosalpingitis are produced (Hartman et al., 1964).Mycoplasmas, as oppor- tunists, may be able to produce similar infections in humans when conditions in the genital tract are favourable. SummaryThe isolation of Mycoplasma hominis from aborted foetuses, accompanied by significant levels of maternal antibody, is described.Rises in antibody titre to M. hominis were also detected in some patients who had this organism in the vagina at the time of abortion.These findings suggest that infection of the genital tract occurs in association with abortion, and sometimes this infection may involve the foetus.The possibility that such infection may sometimes cause abortion is discussed.I am indebted to Dr. James Davson for the histological reports, and to Dr.