Features of amniotic fluid microbiota in full-term pregnancy

Abstract

Objective. To study the microbial landscape of amniotic fluid in physiological process of full-term pregnancy. Recently, after publication of a number of studies regarding human microbiota (The Human Microbiome Project HMP), there occurred a change in paradigm on absolute sterility of fetal membranes and amniotic fluid in physiologically developing pregnancy.
 Materials and methods. At the City Clinical Hospital № 1 named after N.I. Pirogov, during elective cesarean section of 19 pregnant women (at the terms of 3741 weeks) with intact fetal membranes, an amniotic fluid of the following microorganisms was taken by means of PCR-PB: Lactobacillus spp., Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Gardnerella vaginalis / Prevotella bivia / Porphyromonas spp., Eubacterium spp., Sneathia spp. / Leptotrihia spp. / Fusobacterium spp., Megasphaera spp. / Veillonella spp. / Dialister spp., Lachnobacterium spp. / Clostridium spp., Mobiluncus spp. / Corynebacterium spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Atopobium vaginae, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma (urealyticum + parvum), Candida spp., Mycoplasma henitalium.
 Results. The general bacterial mass (GBM) of amniotic fluid in intact fetal membranes is 103,02 Ge/copies, in 47.4 % of cases the amniotic fluid is sterile. Microbiota is most often presented by Enterobacteriaceae spp. 37 %, the share of the rest, identified bacteria is 28 %, the share of unknown is 35 %.
 Conclusions. In case of physiologically developing pregnancy and intact fetal membranes, the general bacterial mass is low (GBM = 103,02 345 Ge/ml). In the intact amniotic sac the most typical microorganisms living in amniotic fluid are Enterobacteriaceae spp. (37 %), the rest are presented in single instances. The presence of the representatives of anaerobic vaginal dysbiosis as well as lactobacilli is not typical for the intact fetal membranes.