Isolation of Pleuropneumonia-Like Organisms from Human Saliva: a Newly Detected Member of the Oral Flora

Abstract

The saliva samples of 46 of 100 individuals were positive for pleuropneumonia-like organisms. This is the first report of these organisms being present in high incidence in a region of the human body outside of the genito-urinary tract. There appeared to be no correlation between the lactobacillus count and the presence of pleuropneumonia-like organisms. An enrichment medium is described which suppresses growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria while permitting growth of the pleuropneumonia-like organisms.