The bacterial microbiome in paired vaginal and vestibular samples from women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.

Composition of the bacterial microbiome in the vagina and vestibule from 30 women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) and 15 healthy controls were compared by pyrosequencing 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Vaginal concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1ß were determined by ELISA. Questionnaires elicited clinical and symptom data. Eighteen genera were detected in vaginal samples, and 23 genera were identified in vestibule samples, from women with VVS. The genera at both sites and the mean number of genera in subjects with VVS were largely similar to those in control subjects. However, differences were noted including higher proportions of Streptococcus and Enterococcus in women with VVS. Furthermore, Lactobacillus iners was more frequently identified in women with VVS while L. crispatus was more frequent in the control women. The dominant bacterial genera in the vagina closely paralleled the dominant genera present in the corresponding vestibular sample in both groups, leading us to postulate that vaginal secretions are an important source of bacteria present on the vestibule. Vaginal IL-1ß levels were similar and varied depending on the dominant bacteria. We conclude in this pilot study that no major differences are apparent in the vagina and vestibule between women with or without VVS, except for an increased prevalence of Streptococcus and L. iners in some women with VVS.

Gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis in two hospitals in Bogota, Colombia / Toxoplasmosis gestacionaly congénita en dos hospitales de Bogotá, Colombia

Background. Gestational toxoplasmosis is acquired during pregnancy and involves a risk of the parasite crossing the placenta, thereby leading to foetal infection, which can lead to serious sequelae in children, mainly chorioretinitis, cerebral calcification, hydrocephalus and intellectual disability. Objective. Determining the prevalence of maternal and neonatal toxoplasmosis in women attending the Engativa and La Victoria hospitals in Bogota, Colombia, for delivery. Correlating the results with those of a national multicentre study. Determining IgM and IgA anti-toxoplasma prevalence in newborn (NB) umbilical cord blood. Materials and methods. This was a cohort study, which was approved by the participating institutions' ethics committees. The patients signed informed consent forms and filled out a survey requesting demographic and prenatal care data. A blood sample was taken from the umbilical cord on delivery for determining anti-toxoplasma IgM. Anti-toxoplasma IgA was also measured in a subset of patients. Children suspected of having either clinical or serological congenital toxoplasmosis were followed-up for 12 months. Results. The study involved taking 3,224 NB umbilical cord blood samples between April 1st 2009 and July 16th 2010. Positive anti-toxoplasma IgG was found in 28.2% of pregnant women (26.1-29.8 95%CI). Anti-toxoplasma IgM was determined in 558 pregnant women and found positive in 34 patients (i.e. 1.1 per 100 NB gestational toxoplasmosis incidence). Nine blood samples were positive (7 for IgM and 2 for IgA). Five of the NB studied (0.15%) were positive for IgG after 12 months' follow-up, thereby confirming a diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis accounting for 1 in every 645 live births. Conclusion. This study showed that 70% of the pregnant women were not infected with T. gondii in the chosen hospitals in Bogotá. Gestational toxoplasmosis frequency was around 1% and 0.6% for congenital toxoplasmosis.

Antecedentes. La toxoplasmosis gestacional es la adquisición de la enfermedad durante la gestación, con el riesgo de que el parásito atraviese la placenta and produzca una infección fetal, que puede llevar a importantes secuelas en el niño, principalmente coroidoretinitis, calcificaciones cerebrales, hidrocefalia and retardo mental. Objetivo. Conocer la prevalencia de la toxoplasmosis materna and neonatal, de las mujeres que asistieron para la atención del parto, en los Hospitales Engativá and La Victoria, de Bogotá, Colombia y correlacionar los resultados con los del estudio multicéntrico nacional. Determinar la prevalencia de IgM and IgA en sangre de cordón umbilical de los recién nacidos (RN). Materiales and métodos. Estudio de cohorte. El estudio fue aprobado por los comités de ética de las instituciones. Las pacientes firmaron el consentimiento informado y, posteriormente, se les diligenció el formato de recolección de datos, para conocer las características demográficas and los datos del control prenatal. En el parto, después del pinzamiento del cordón, se tomó una muestra de sangre de este, para determinar IgM antitoxoplasma y en un subgrupo de pacientes también se midió la IgA antitoxoplasma. Los niños con datos clínicos o serológicos sospechosos de toxoplasmosis congénita, se siguieron hasta los 12 meses. Resultados. Se tomaron muestras de 3.224 RN, entre el 1 de abril de 2009 y el 16 de julio de 2010. En las gestantes se encontró IgG anti-Toxoplasma positiva en 28,2% (IC95% 26,1-29,8). Se determinó la IgM anti-Toxoplasma en 558 gestantes encontrando 34 positivas, calculando una incidencia de toxoplasmosis gestacional de 1,1 por cada 100 RN. Se estudiaron 3215 muestras de cordón umbilical y se encontraron nueve casos positivos (siete con IgM y dos con IgA). De los RN estudiados, cinco (0,15%) tuvieron resultado positivo de IgG al año de edad, con lo cual se confirmó el diagnostico de toxoplasmosis congénita; esto equivale a un diagnóstico de toxoplasmosis congénita en 1 de cada 645 nacidos vivos. Conclusión. En este estudio se encontró que, en los hospitales de Bogotá estudiados, aproximadamente el 70% de las mujeres al momento de la gestación no se han infectado con el T gondii. La frecuencia de la toxoplasmosis gestacional es de aproximadamente 1% y la de toxoplasmosis congénita de 0,6%.