Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant review
Abstract Background The 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-Lactobacil...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04072-1 |
| _version_ | 1818731951976087552 |
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| author | Naomi C. A. Juliana Remco P. H. Peters Salwan Al-Nasiry Andries E. Budding Servaas A. Morré Elena Ambrosino |
| author_facet | Naomi C. A. Juliana Remco P. H. Peters Salwan Al-Nasiry Andries E. Budding Servaas A. Morré Elena Ambrosino |
| author_sort | Naomi C. A. Juliana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The 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. Methods A 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. Results Ten 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. Conclusion In 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:25:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0a09667f16ea43fd9cf6e537044f4143 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:25:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a09667f16ea43fd9cf6e537044f41432022-12-21T21:28:46ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932021-09-0121111510.1186/s12884-021-04072-1Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant reviewNaomi C. A. Juliana0Remco P. H. Peters1Salwan Al-Nasiry2Andries E. Budding3Servaas A. Morré4Elena Ambrosino5Department 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 UniversityDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University of PretoriaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC)InbiomeDepartment 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 UniversityDepartment 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 UniversityAbstract Background The 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. Methods A 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. Results Ten 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. Conclusion In 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04072-1Vaginal microbiotaVaginal microbiomeVaginal dysbiosisPregnancySub-Saharan AfricaAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Naomi C. A. Juliana Remco P. H. Peters Salwan Al-Nasiry Andries E. Budding Servaas A. Morré Elena Ambrosino Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant review BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Vaginal microbiota Vaginal microbiome Vaginal dysbiosis Pregnancy Sub-Saharan Africa Africa |
| title | Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant review |
| title_full | Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant review |
| title_fullStr | Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant review |
| title_short | Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant review |
| title_sort | composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub saharan africa a prisma compliant review |
| topic | Vaginal microbiota Vaginal microbiome Vaginal dysbiosis Pregnancy Sub-Saharan Africa Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04072-1 |
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