Comparative analysis of the vaginal microbiome of pregnant women with either Trichomonas vaginalis or Chlamydia trachomatis

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough the significance of the human vaginal microbiome for health and disease is increasingly acknowledged, there is paucity of data on the differences in the composition of the vaginal microbiome upon infection with different sexually transmitted pathogens.MethodThe composition of the vaginal bacterial community of women with Trichomonas vaginalis (TV, N = 18) was compared to that of women with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT, N = 14), and to that of controls (N = 21) (women negative for TV, CT and bacterial vaginosis). The vaginal bacterial composition was determined using high throughput sequencing with the Ion 16S metagenomics kit of the variable regions 2, 4 and 8 of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene from the vaginal swab DNA extract of the women. QIIME and R package “Phyloseq” were used to assess the α- and β-diversity and absolute abundance of the 16S rRNA gene per sample in the three groups. Differences in taxa at various levels were determined using the independent T-test.ResultsA total of 545 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified in all the three groups of which 488 occurred in all three groups (core OTUs). Bacterial α-diversity, by both Simpson’s and Shannon’s indices, was significantly higher, (p = 0.056) and (p = 0.001) respectively, among women with either TV or CT than among controls (mean α-diversity TV-infected > CT-infected > Controls). At the genus level, women infected with TV had a significantly (p < 0.01) higher abundance of Parvimonas and Prevotella species compared to both controls and CT-infected women, whereas women infected with CT had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher abundance of Anaerococcus, Collinsella, Corynebacterium and Dialister.ConclusionThe vaginal microbiomes of TV and CT-infected women were markedly different from each other and from women without TV and CT. Future studies should determine whether the altered microbiomes are merely markers of disease, or whether they actively contribute to the pathology of the two genital infections.

Prevalence and factors associated with Trichomonas vaginalis infection in indigenous Brazilian women

“…The results of this study are similar to the already published ones where the higher prevalence of TV is found in a highly vulnerable population: people deprived of their liberty, sex workers, and populations with low socioeconomic indexes [ 2 , 4 , 8 , 9 ]. In this study, 71% of the women were observed to have a family income of less than 189.00 USD, which represents less than 20% of the average family income from the rest of Brazil [ 19 , 22 ].…”

“…Taking into account that most cases of TV are asymptomatic or have common symptoms among uninfected patients [19,22], increasing even more the number of underdiagnosis cases of the disease [10], it is imperative to carry out population screening and to implement information measures on the disease as well as more specific and precise diagnostic methods [19,22]. The results of this study are similar to the already published ones where the higher prevalence of TV is found in a highly vulnerable population: people deprived of their liberty, sex workers, and populations with low socioeconomic indexes [2,4,8,9]. In this study, 71% of the women were observed to have a family income of less than 189.00 USD, which represents less than 20% of the average family income from the rest of Brazil [19,22].…”

“…vaginalis , there are sensitivity limitations that prevent the use of this technique for the diagnosis of infection [ 3 , 5 ]. The main focus of this technique is on the search for cellular changes such as atypical granular cells and squamous lesions, other findings such as Gardnerella vaginallis infection or Candida albicans , end up being in the background, which can also be related with problems in the female reproductive tract, especially the imbalance of bacterial flora, increasing the risk of infection by other STIs [ 6 – 8 ].…”

Aetiological testing compared with syndromic management for sexually transmitted infections in HIV‐infected pregnant women in South Africa: a non‐randomised prospective cohort study

“…However, a sub‐analysis of our data did not show any difference in pregnancy outcomes related to the detection and treatment of STIs in women before or after 20 weeks gestation [data not shown]. Furthermore, the complex interplay between HIV infection, STIs and the vaginal microbiome may also have a impact on pregnancy outcomes 45–48 . Unfortunately, our study cohort characteristics and data collected limit our ability to address these issues.…”

Vaginal Aging—What We Know and What We Do Not Know

“…often results in infection with anaerobic bacteria, leading to bacterial vaginosis and, in pregnant women, to preterm labor. The bacterial flora of the vagina dynamically changes under the influence of many factors, including lifestyle, smoking, hygiene habits, sex life, menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptives, HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infections, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Chlamydia trachomatis, but mainly due to changes in the hormonal status of women resulting from age and the aging process [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. The first significant changes in the bacterial environment of the vagina occur during puberty.…”