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Poster Presentations
PS01 – POSTER VIEWING SESSION – MONDAY
Monday, July 15, 2019 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
P364 Gardnerella vaginalis clade distribution is associated with behaviours and Nugent score in women who have sex with women
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  1. Erica Plummer1,
  2. Lenka Vodstrcil1,
  3. Gerald Murray2,
  4. Christopher Fairley1,
  5. Jennifer Danielewski2,
  6. Suzanne Garland2,
  7. Eric Chow1,
  8. Dieter Bulach3,
  9. Katherine Fethers4,
  10. Jane Hocking5,
  11. Catriona Bradshaw1
  1. 1Monash University, Central Clinical School, Carlton, Australia
  2. 2The Royal Women’s Hospital, Centre for Women’s Infectious Disease Research, Parkville, Australia
  3. 3Melbourne Bioinformatics, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia
  4. 4Alfred Health, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Australia
  5. 5University of Melbourne, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Parkville, Australia

Abstract

Background Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) can be detected in women with BV and without BV. Identification of four genetically distinct GV-clades (defined using clade-specific genetic markers) led to the hypothesis that there may be both pathogenic and commensal GV-clades. We conducted a study investigating the distribution and behavioural associations of GV-clades in a cohort of women-who-have-sex-with-women (WSW).

Methods Women self-collected vaginal swabs and completed behavioural questionnaires 3-monthly for 24 months or until incident BV(Nugent Score[NS]=7–10). qPCR assays were used to detect GV and the four GV-clades. Multinomial logistic regression assessed factors associated with number of GV-clades. Generalized estimating equations population-averaged models assessed factors associated with each GV-clade. Models accounted for repeated measures.

Results 369 specimens from 101 women were analysed. GV was detected in 181 specimens, and most GV-positive specimens had multiple clades present (n=119/181, 66%). Detection of multiple GV-clades was associated with smoking (adjusted relative risk ratio [RRR]:2.52; 95%CI:1.25,5.07), increased lifetime female sex partners (FSP; adjRRR:2.43; 95%CI:1.09,5.38), and a NS=4-6 (intermediate microbiota) or NS=7-10 (Nugent BV) relative to no clades. GV4 was the most prevalent clade (n=136/369; 37%; 95% CI: 32,42%), followed by GV1 (n=116/369; 31%; 95% CI: 27,36%) and GV2 (n=76/369; 21%; 95% CI: 17,25%). GV3 was uncommon (n=17/369; 5%; 95% CI:3,7%). GV1 was associated with a NS=7–10 (adjusted odds ratio[AOR]:3.87; 95%CI:1.75,8.56), smoking (AOR:2.74; 95%CI:1.28,5.87) and report of any sexual partners (AOR:3.41; 95%CI:1.18,9.86). GV2 was associated with NS=4–6 (AOR:3.28; 95%CI:1.00,10.77), sharing of sex-toys (AOR:2.30; 95%CI:1.05,5.04) and recent male sex partners (AOR:6.58; 95%CI:2.02,21.40). GV4 presence was associated with increased lifetime FSPs (AOR:3.17; 95%CI:1.25,5.07).

Conclusion GV1 and presence of multiple GV-clades was associated with Nugent BV in WSW, whereas GV2 was associated with intermediate microbiota. Individual GV-clades were associated with a range of differing sexual behaviours in adjusted analyses. These associations are of uncertain importance, but do provide support for exchange of GV-clades between sexual partners.

Disclosure No significant relationships.

  • vaginal infections and dysbiosis

https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2019-sti.466

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