T-Form colonies of pleuropneumonialike organisms.

During the course of previous studies on pleuropneuimonialike organisms (PPLO) and their possible role in the etiology of nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), a minute, morphologically distinct PPLO colony form was observed (Shepard, 1954.) More recent studies have substantiated this observation. These minute colonies of pleuropneumonialike organisms were designated T-form (tiny) PPLO colonies. They were recovered in primary culture (in addition to other, well characterized PPLO colony types) from the anterior urethra of men with nongonococcal urethritis. It is the purpose of this report to describe the morphology and discuss the properties of T-form colonies of pleuropneumonialike organisms from human beings.