Quantification of Atopobium vaginae loads may be a new method for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.

BACKGROUND

Traditional methods for the diagnosis of BV is either with poor sensitivity or poor specificity. Thus, establishing a new method based on the vaginal flora is vital for the diagnosis of BV.

METHODS

This article is a retrospective research. Based on the Amsel criteria and Nugent score, 230 BV-positive patients and 360 healthy women were enrolled, specific PCR and quantitative PCR were applied to quantify 5 BV-associated bacteria, including Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Leptotrichia/Sneathia species, Megasphaera species and Mobiluncus mulieris. ROC curve was facilitated to screen a bacterial panel with optimal sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

Specific PCR showed that the area under ROC curve of A.vag, G.vag + A.vag, G.vag + A.vag + Lepto, G.vag + A.vag + Mega and G.vag + A.vag + M.mul were 0.845, 0.862, 0.865, 0.869 and 0.867, the sensitivity and specificity were higher than 80%, which were practicable methods for the diagnosis of BV. Quantitative PCR showed the area under ROC curve of Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Leptotrichia/Sneathia species, Megasphaera species and Mobiluncus mulieris were 0.959, 0.996, 0.933, 0.748 and 0.639, when the cutoff value of Atopobium vaginae loads was 247,800 copies/mL, the optimal sensitivity and specificity were 0.979 and 0.952, which was distinctly better than specific PCR.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantification ofAtopobium vaginae loads may be a new method of excellent sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of BV.