MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF MOBILUNCUS CURTISII AND MEGASPHAERA TYPE1 ASSOCIATED WITH BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS IN IRANIAN WOMEN, THE FIRST REPORT

Methods: A total of 211women suspicious of having bacterial vaginosis were examined by PCR and Gram stain for presence of Mobiluncus curtisii and Megasphaera type I. Bacterial vaginosis was tested by four different laboratory methods based on Amsel criteria. These methods included determination of pH, Whiff test, and observation of Clue cells in a direct smear. Results were correlated with those obtained by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method.Results:From a total of 211 suspected bacterial vaginosis samples, 66 cases were confirmed by Nugent score (31%). Mobiluncus curtisii was detected by PCR in 18 women with bacterial vaginosis (27.3%) and 2 women without the infection (2.5%). Megasphaera type I was detected by PCR in 7 women with bacterial vaginosis (10.5%) and none in women without BVConclusion: It can be concluded that Megasphaera type 1 as well as Mobiluncus curtisii play pathogenic roles in the establishment of bacterial vaginosis. Our results showed a relatively high prevalence of BV in non-pregnant and pregnant women in Guilan province of northern Iran

Keywords:

Bacterial vaginosis , Mobiluncus curtisii , Megasphaera type I , PCR