In:
Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation, S. Karger AG, Vol. 70, No. 4 ( 2010), p. 256-263
Abstract:
〈 i 〉 Objective: 〈 /i 〉 To study the incidence and distribution of adherent 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella vaginalis 〈 /i 〉 . 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 Bacteria adherent to desquamated epithelial cells in the urine were detected using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Urine from patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV, n = 20), their partners (n = 10) and different control populations (n = 344) including pregnant women and their partners, randomly selected populations of hospitalized man, women and children as also healthy controls was investigated. 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella 〈 /i 〉 was found in two different forms: cohesive and dispersed. In the cohesive form, 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella 〈 /i 〉 were attached to the epithelial cells in groups of highly concentrated bacteria. In the dispersed form, solitary 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella 〈 /i 〉 were intermixed with other bacterial groups. Cohesive 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella 〈 /i 〉 was present in all patients with proven BV and their partners, in 7% of men and 13% of women hospitalized for reasons other than BV, in 16% of pregnant women and 12% of their male partners, and in none of the healthy laboratory staff or children. In sexual partners, occurrence of cohesive 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella 〈 /i 〉 was clearly linked. Dispersed 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella 〈 /i 〉 were found in 10–18% of randomly selected females, 3–4% of males and 10% of children and not sexually linked. In daily longitudinal investigations over 4 weeks no transition between cohesive and dispersed 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella 〈 /i 〉 and vice versa was observed. Transmission of a cohesive 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella 〈 /i 〉 strain could be followed retrospectively over 15 years using molecular genetic methods. 〈 i 〉 Conclusions: 〈 /i 〉 Cohesive 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella 〈 /i 〉 biofilm is a distinct, clearly definable entity which involves both genders and is sexually transmitted. The correct name distinguishing it from symptom-defined conditions like BV should be gardnerellosis and for the bacterium 〈 i 〉 Gardnerella genitalis. 〈 /i 〉
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0378-7346
,
1423-002X
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2010
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1482695-1
