Evaluation of Fusobacterium nucleatum in Amniotic Fluid of Women with Preterm Labour

Abstract

Objective: The effect of Fusobacterium nucleatum, an oral commensal, on pregnancy outcomes is of global concern. This study screened for F. nucleatum and the fadA gene in amniotic fluid obtained from women presenting with preterm labour. Methods: This is a cross-sectional pilot study. Amniotic fluid was collected from women with preterm labour at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and analysed using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). I6SrRNA species-specific primers were used to assess the presence of F. nucleatum species and fadA genes for virulence potentials. Questionnaire-based data obtained was analysed using SPSS version 20.0. and amplicon analysis was measured on base pairs. Results: Fourty participants had preterm deliveries between April and August 2018. Of these 34 (85%) were enrolled, out of which 25 amniotic fluid samples (AF) were collected. The mean age of the participants was 30.5 years. Among them, 10 (29.4%) were primigravida, and 24 (70.6%) were multigravida. Six (1.8%) of the women had a history of gestational diabetes, and four (1.2%) had hypertension. Only 4 (1.2%) were aware that bacteria could cause preterm labour. 11 (32%) visited the dentist during the period of their pregnancy. There was no amplification of 16SrRNA or the fadA genes in the tested samples. Conclusions: This study showed that preterm delivery was more common in multigravida pregnant women aged 31-35 years. Although some of the samples were cloudy and purulent, Fusobacterium nucleatum species-specific and virulent fadA genes were not detected in amniotic fluid obtained from the population of women with preterm labour studied.