Abstract
BackgroundBacterial vaginosis (BV), the etiology of which is still uncertain, increases the risk of preterm birth. Recent PCR-based studies suggested that BV is associated with complex vaginal bacterial communities, including many newly recognized bacterial species in non-pregnant women.MethodsTo examine whether these bacteria are also involved in BV in pregnant Japanese women, vaginal fluid samples were taken from 132 women, classified as normal (n = 98), intermediate (n = 21), or BV (n = 13) using the Nugent gram stain criteria, and studied. DNA extracted from these samples was analyzed for bacterial sequences of any Lactobacillus, four Lactobacillus species, and four BV-related bacteria by PCR with primers for 16S ribosomal DNA including a universal Lactobacillus primer, Lactobacillus species-specific primers for L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, and L. iners, and BV-related bacterium-specific primers for BVAB2, Megasphaera, Leptotrichia, and Eggerthella-like bacterium.ResultsThe prevalences of L. crispatus, L. jensenii, and L. gasseri were significantly higher, while those of BVAB2, Megasphaera, Leptotrichia, and Eggerthella-like bacterium were significantly lower in the normal group than in the BV group. Unlike other Lactobacillus species, the prevalence of L. iners did not differ between the three groups and women with L. iners were significantly more likely to have BVAB2, Megasphaera, Leptotrichia, and Eggerthella-like bacterium. Linear regression analysis revealed associations of BVAB2 and Megasphaera with Nugent score, and multivariate regression analyses suggested a close relationship between Eggerthella-like bacterium and BV.ConclusionThe BV-related bacteria, including BVAB2, Megasphaera, Leptotrichia, and Eggerthella-like bacterium, are common in the vagina of pregnant Japanese women with BV. The presence of L. iners may be correlated with vaginal colonization by these BV-related bacteria.
Highlights
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the etiology of which is still uncertain, increases the risk of preterm birth
Bacteria such as Atopobium vaginae, Megasphaera sp., Leptotrichia sp., and Eggerthella-like bacterium have been reported as microorganisms related to this condition by molecular analyses [17,18,19]
Fredricks et al identified three phylogenetically distinct bacterial DNA sequences in human vaginal samples highly specific for this condition and designated them BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) 1~3 [19]. They showed that BVABs, Megasphaera, Leptotrichia, and Eggerthella-like bacterium are more specific for BV than Gardnerella and Atopobium [19]
Summary
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the etiology of which is still uncertain, increases the risk of preterm birth. Bacterial vaginosis has been suggested to be a risk factor of perinatal complications, including preterm birth [1,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12] and chorioamnionitis [4,13] These complications are closely associated with neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Fredricks et al identified three phylogenetically distinct bacterial DNA sequences in human vaginal samples highly specific for this condition and designated them BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) 1~3 [19]. They showed that BVABs, Megasphaera, Leptotrichia, and Eggerthella-like bacterium are more specific for BV than Gardnerella and Atopobium [19].
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