Characteristics of the vaginal microbiome in cross-border female sex workers in China: a case-control study

• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8131
• Publication Date: 2019-11-29T09:20:52Z
• Authors: Xiang Hong; Shenghao Fang; Kaiping Huang; Jiechen Yin; Jianshuang Chen; Yan Xuan; Jing Zhu; Jun Ma; Pengfei Qin; Danhong Peng; Ning Wang; Bei Wang
• Keywords: Female sex workers; 0301 basic medicine; Female non-sex workers; QH301-705.5; R; Vaginal microbiome; Microbiology; 3. Good health; Lactobacillus; 03 medical and health sciences; 5. Gender equality; Medicine; Biology (General)

BackgroundFemale sex workers (FSWs) are key groups in the transmission of sexual transmitted infections (STI), and vaginal microbiome variations play an important role in transmission. We aimed to explore the characteristics of vaginal microbiome among FSWs.Materials and MethodsA total of 24 cross-border FSWs were randomly selected from a cross-sectional survey for female sex workers in southwest China. Thirty-seven female non-sex workers (FNSWs) were randomly selected from the gynecology clinic and health examination center. Vaginal swabs were collected, bacterial DNA extracted and 16S rRNA genes were sequenced. Differences in the vaginal microbiome between both groups were compared using bioinformatics analysis.ResultsOne DNA sample was excluded due to unqualified concentration, therefore 60 samples were sequenced. FSWs had significantly different vaginal microbiota β diversity, but undifferentiated α diversity when compared with non-sex workers. The average relative abundance ofSneathia,Shigella,Neisseria,Chlamydia,Prevotella,EnterococcusandUreaplasmaamong FSWs was higher than FNSWs, and relative abundance ofAtopobiumin FSWs was lower than FNSWs. TheLactobacillusgenus was the major genus in both groups. At the species level,Lactobacllus crispatus,Lactobacllus gasseriandLactobacllus jensenii, in female sex workers, were lower when compared to FNSWs.ConclusionThere were distinct differences in vaginal bacteria variety between FSWs and FNSWs. Some disease-related genus were also more abundant in FSWs. Based on these observations, further research is required to identify microbiome communities related to high STI risks and other diseases in these cohorts.