T-strain pleuropneumonia-like organisms as one cause of non-gonococcal urethritis.

A recent study and review of the literature (Ford, 1960) provided no support for the view that the usual strains of genital pleuropneumonia-like organisms (PPLU) were a cause of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). It was noted, however, that Shepard (1956, 1957, 1960) had isolated morphologically distinct T-strain PPLO from the genital tract of patients with NGU, and that he believed these T-strain PPLO to be aetiologically related to the urethritis. The present work was undertaken to seek confirmation of Shepard's findings in a different geographical area.