Ureaplasma urealyticum is implicated in nongonococcal urethritis and in certain urinary tract complications. The enzymatic property responsible for its association with urinary calculi is:
- A Oxidase activity
- B Urease activity ✓
- C Indole production
- D Coagulase activity
Correct answer: B. Urease activity
Explanation
Ureaplasma species are named for their unique ability to hydrolyse urea using the enzyme urease, generating ammonia. Ammonia alkalinises urine and promotes precipitation of magnesium ammonium phosphate, leading to struvite stone formation, the same mechanism described for Proteus species. Among the mycoplasmas, only Ureaplasma is urease positive, which also forms the basis of its identification in culture. Oxidase, indole and coagulase tests are properties of unrelated bacterial genera.
Reference: Jawetz, Melnick & Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, 28th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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