Abstract: A polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assay was developed for detection of Urea plasma urealyticum DNA.From the published sequence of the ureaplasma urease genes,two primers was selected' The primer sets amplified 283hp fragment from each of 14 serovars of ureasplasma,but did not amplify any fragment from other mycoplasmas or other oraganisms in this study.Those 283hp fragments could be digested to 151,132hp fragments by Hinc Ⅱ.After 35 cycles of amplification with the primer sets,PCR assay demonstrated a sensitivity of 10-"g of DNA,which corresponds to the detection of 20 copies of Ureaplasma urealyticum.Serial dilution experiments revealed that the PCR procedure with 40 cycles of amplification was as sensitive as culture.The PCR assay,while sufficiently simple for routine application,may prove to be a valuable diagnostic tool.

Key words: Ureaplasma urealyticum, Polymerase chain reaction