Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant review

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Naomi C. A. Juliana¹  Elena Ambrosino¹  Servaas A. Morré²  Remco P. H. Peters³  Salwan Al-Nasiry⁴  Andries E. Budding⁵ 

[1]Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Research School GROW (School for Oncology & Developmental Biology), Institute for Public Health Genomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands

[2]Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Research School GROW (School for Oncology & Developmental Biology), Institute for Public Health Genomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands

[3]Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Location AMC, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands

[4]Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

[5]Department of Medical Microbiology, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPRHI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands

[6]Research Unit, Foundation for Professional Development, East London, South Africa

[7]Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht, Netherlands

[8]Inbiome, Amsterdam, Netherlands

关键词: Vaginal microbiota;    Vaginal microbiome;    Vaginal dysbiosis;    Pregnancy;    Sub-Saharan Africa;    Africa;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12884-021-04072-1

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe vaginal microbiota (VMB) are the set of microorganisms residing in the human vagina. During pregnancy, their composition is Lactobacillus-dominant in most Caucasian women. Previous studies suggest that the VMB of women with African ancestry is more likely to be non-Lactobacillus dominant (dysbiotic) compared to other populations, and possibly relate to the high incidence of pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth. This work reviewed the literature on VMB composition in pregnant women from sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsA search was conducted in PubMed and Embase databases following PRISMA guidelines. Observational and intervention studies analysing VMB communities from sub-Saharan African pregnant women using molecular techniques were included.ResultsTen studies performed in seven sub-Saharan African countries were identified. They independently showed that Lactobacillus-dominant VMB (particularly L. iners or L. crispatus) or VMB containing Lactobacilli are the most prevalent, followed by a more diverse anaerobe-dominant VMB, in the studied populations. The majority of pregnant women with a sexually-transmitted infection had a Lactobacillus-dominant VMB, but with a significantly higher presence of anaerobic species.ConclusionIn agreement with studies performed in other populations, Lactobacillus species are the most prevalent VMB species during pregnancy in sub-Saharan African women. The frequency of diverse anaerobe-dominant VMB is high in these populations. In Africa, studies on VMB in pregnancy are scant, heterogeneous in methodology, and knowledge remains limited. More insights on VMB composition and their possible sequalae among these populations is needed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY