GARDNERELLA VAGINALIS CLADE DISTRIBUTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH BEHAVIOURS AND NUGENT SCORE IN WOMEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH WOMEN

Abstract

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). 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. Genera..